Nine winners receive Hudl awards at GACA Falcons Coaches Luncheon

GHSF Daily’s 2023 Hudl awards were presented to the winning coaches at the GACA Falcons Coaches Luncheon in Macon. On hand were (front row from left) Kirk Hoffman, Flint River Academy; Tommy Watson, Harris County; John Russ, Providence Christian; (back row from left) Brandon Hedgecock, Hudl; Jason McEachin, Portal; Heath Webb, Lumpkin County; Carl Kearney, Spalding; Johnny T. White, Douglas County; Cherard Freeman, Bryan County; Matt Helmerich, Peachtree Ridge; and Todd Holcomb, GHSF Daily.

Nine Georgia football coaches received GHSF Daily’s Hudl awards Tuesday in Macon at the annual GACA Falcons Coaches Luncheon.

The Hudl awards go to coaches of the “most improved winning teams” in each GHSA classification and the GIAA.

The winners (with capsules below) were Matt Helmerich of Peachtree Ridge, Johnny T. White of Douglas County, Tommy Watson of Harris County, Carl Kearney of Spalding, Heath Webb of Lumpkin County, John Russ of Providence Christian, Cherard Freeman of Bryan County, Jason McEachin of Portal and Kirk Hoffman of Flint River Academy.

The algorithm that determines the winners is powered by the computer Maxwell Ratings and compares each team’s 2023 performance to its 2022 expectations given its history. Winning coaches must lead their teams to the playoffs with winning records and improved seeding or playoff finish from 2022.

Coaches from several college teams also attended the event put on by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. Those included Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel and Florida State’s Mike Norvell.

Class 7A: Matt Helmerich/Peachtree Ridge Lions: 

First 10-win season (10-2) since 2014

First share of a region championship since 2008

First playoff victory since 2016

Hired in 2022, team coming off a 3-7 finish

Class 6A: Johnny T. White/Douglas County Tigers:

First region title since 2002

First state semifinal since 1988

First 13-win season (13-1) since 1964

Hired in 2016; had first winning season in nine years in 2017

Class 5A: Tommy Watson/Harris County Tigers:

First region title since 2014

First state quarterfinal since 2012

First 10-win season (11-2) in history of a program that started in 1956.

Hired in 2022

Class 4A: Carl Kearney/Spalding Jaguars:

First region title since 2003

First 12-win season since 2003

First state quarterfinal since 2016

Hired in 2020, inherited a 1-9 team

Class 3A: Heath Webb/Lumpkin County Indians:

First region title in history (program started 1961)

First state quarterfinal in history

First playoff victory in history

Hired in 2022; 7-43 in the previous five seasons; 20-4 under Webb

Class 2A: John Russ/Providence Christian Storm

First winning season in history

First playoff appearance in history

Won eight games (8-3) at program that had won only 12 games in a 10-year program history

First-year head coach

Class A Division I: Cherard Freeman/Bryan County Redskins:

First region title in history (program started 1976)

First playoff victory in history

First semifinal appearance in history

First 10-win season (12-2) in history

Inherited an 0-9 team when hired in 2020

Class A Division II: Jason McEachin/Portal Panthers:

First winning season since 2011

First region title in history

First playoff victory since 2004

Inherited a winless team when hired in 2021

GIAA: Kirk Hoffman/Flint River Academy Wildcats:

State’s most improved winning team: 30.1 points greater than 2022

Avenged five losses, winning those games by 33-point average margin

First undefeated team since 2005

State champion