Franklin Stephens- Head Coach Football Coaching Staff Coach Franklin Stephens is a native of Keysville, Georgia, located in Burke County Georgia. Coach Stephens attended Georgia Southern University where he started for three years as a center and guard for the 1993 Southern Conference Champions. As a senior Stephens was elected a Team Captain. Additionally, Coach Stephens was twice named All- America and All-Southern Conference while winning the Jacob s Blocking Trophy in 1994 as the Conference s top lineman. He graduated from Georgia Southern with a B.S. in Justice Studies. After college, Coach Stephens attended training camp with the St. Louis Rams and played two seasons in the Arena League. During his first year in the Arena League he was recipient of the team s Iron Man Award; team s best two-way player. Stephens then focused on coaching and completing his teacher certification at Paine College. Coach Stephens started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Burke County High School with former Tucker High School head football coach Franklin, Renee, Donovan and Trinity Mike Falluer in 1996. In Burke County, Coach Stephens was part of one State Finalist Football Team, one State Champion Track Team, and one State-Runner up Track Team. Furthermore, while in Burke County, Coach Stephens became the Defensive Coordinator for two seasons working with Nick Davis, presently Shiloh High School s head football coach. After six years, Coach Stephens left Burke County and the Lord led him and his wife to Camden County where he worked under the tutelage of Jeff Herron. In Camden, Coach Stephens was part of one State Championship Football Team. Also, Camden County appeared in three semi-finals and garnered a reputation as being a state powerhouse. Additionally, Coach Stephens was named the 2003 Region 3-AAAAA Assistant Coach of the Year. Further while in Camden, Coach Stephens was named Defensive Coordinator in which he served in capacity for the last three years. During that time Camden County was consistently ranked in the top 5 for points allowed defensively. Also, during his tenure, Camden set the state record for regular season wins at 58. Coach Stephens obtained his Master s Degree in Foundations of Education from Troy State University (2002). He earned his Educational Specialist Degree in Education Leadership from Argosy University (2006). Coach Stephens also received a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University (2007). Coach Stephens believes that faith, education and work ethic are key factors in being successful. Coach Stephens is married to the former L. Renee Simmons of Jacksonville, Florida. Mrs. Stephens is proud to have had the opportunity to serve her country as a former United States Marine. Presently, Mrs. Stephens teaches Business Education classes at Tucker High School while completing requirements as a Doctoral Candidate at Argosy University. The Stephens are the blessed and proud parents of two children; Donovan (6) and Trinity (3). Even though Coach Stephens has experienced tremendous success throughout his life; he is extremely proud of the fact that he truly learned what it means to put God as head of your life. God Bless!!! Where there is no vision the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 12
Bryan Lamar - Defensive Coordinator-Secondary Bryan Lamar is a 1998 graduate of Tucker High School and graduate of UT-Chattanooga. He played football for UTC for four years as a safety. Bryan was Head Football Coach at Tucker Middle during their inaugural season in 2004 and now serves as Defensive Coordinator and a teacher at Tucker Middle School. Toderick Malone - Offensive Coordinator-Quarterbacks This is Toderick s fourth season with the Tucker Tigers. For the last three seasons, Toderick was the Wide Receivers and Quarterbacks coach. This year he begins a new chapter with the Tigers as the Offensive Coordinator. After attending the University of Alabama and playing with the Crimson Tide for four years, Toderick pursued a professional career with the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins and NFL Europe s London Monarchs. Toderick has been in the coaching profession for six years and has a strong passion for coaching and mentoring youth. Toderick s family includes his wife Gail and daughter Asia. Gail is an Interior Designer with Gensler Architecture in Atlanta. Roderick Russell - Runningbacks Junior Varsity Head Coach This is Roderick Russell s first season with the Tigers. Coach Russell hails from Kennesaw Mountain High School where he coached Runningbacks and Wide Receivers for five years. An All-State and Team MVP from Opelika Alabama, Roderick earned a football scholarship to Georgia Southern in 1993. A college Runningback, Roderick was a two time All American, Team Captain, and Conference Player of the Year. Roderick is married to Brenda and has two sons Roderick, Jr. and Emmanuel. 13
Robbie Gilbert - Offensive Line - Head Coach 9th Grade Abby, Amy, Morgan & Robby Jon Rich - Offensive Line Coach Gilbert is a native of Tucker. Having graduated from Tucker High in 1993, he played baseball and football while in high school. He also attended Major League Baseball Umpiring School in 1997. He attended Truett- McConnell Junior College and played baseball there as well. He is currently working on finishing his degree in Business at Kaplan. He is back living in Tucker after having moved away for seven years. He s been married to the former Amy Weiss for eleven years and they have a son, Morgan, nine, and daughter, Abby, six. He is also a Varsity Baseball Coach. To my wife, thank you for all that you do to allow me this wonderful experience of coaching. To Morgan and Abby, you are my pride and joy and what I look forward to everyday. I love you all. Jon Rich is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where he played tackle and guard positions on the offensive line. Jon is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and Prince Hall Masonry Lodge. A motorcycle enthusiast, Coach Rich likes listening to music and spending time with his family. Coach Rich is married to Stacey Rich formerly of Pascagoula, MS, and has one daughter, Jonia, four. Jon joins the Tigers from McNair Middle School in Dekalb County and is preparing for the challenge of taking the Tigers all the way to STATE!! Jon and Stacy Rich Brian Clark - Wide Receivers This is Brian Clark s first year coaching. A native of Decatur, GA., Brian attended Towers High School where he ran track and played football. A recipient of All Dekalb county and State honors, Coach Clark attended Benedict College in Columbia, SC, on a football scholarship. Brian received his BS degree in Recreational Education in May 2006. Coach Clark tried out for two NFL teams before joining the Dekalb County school system. 14
Mike Harwell - Defensive Line Video Coordinator Coach Harwell is from Rome, GA where he graduated from East Rome High School. After sering in the U.S. Navy, he attended the University of Georgia, where he received his undergraduate egree in in Education. His graduate degree is from Emory University. He teaches AP European History, I.B. History of the Americas and Economics. He is married to the former Linnea Wicklund and the have three children, Ryan, who attends Georgia Tech, Paige, who is on soccer scholarship at Iowa, and Elise who attends Livsey Elementary. He is in his ninth year at Tucker and will help coach the Varsity Tigers. He is also the boys Head Soccer Coach. Mike, Linnea, and Elise Steven Craft - Defensive Line Coach Steven Craft was born in Auburn, Alabama. He graduated from Lumpkin County High School in Dahlonega, Georgia in 1995. He attended the University of Georgia and received his Social Science degree in 1999. He also received his Master s degree in Educational Leadership from Jacksonville State University in 2003 and his specialist from Piedmont College in 2007. His teaching and coaching career includes: Cedar Shoals Freshman Football in 1999; Lassiter High School offensive line coach and U.S. History Teacher. This is his first year as the defensive line coach, he was offensive line coach for two years and has taught U.S. History at Tucker for three years. Eric Johnson - Linebackers Coach Eric Johnson was born in California. He graduated from Montclair High School and attended Chaffey Jr. College and then transferred to UCLA. After three years of playing professional football in Germany, Coach Johnson began his coaching career at Claremont McKenna College as a strength and conditioning and linebakers coach. Moving to Atlanta, Coach Johnson joined Morehouse College and then became a soccer coach for Spelman College. He coached defensive backs at Westlake High school and Druid Hills High School, respectively. This is Coach Johnson s first year at Tucker. Coach Johnson owns his own training company Built 2 Last and hopes to bring his wealth of experience to The Tigers. Coach Johnson has been married to Deborah Johnson for 20 years. 15
Terry Jones, Jr. - Secondary Terry was born December 3 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He attended Central High school where he was a star basketball player and started as a junior on the football team. Terry Jones is a graduate of the University of Alabama located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in General Business Administration. As a student Athlete, Terry started all four years. In his senior year he was voted a captain by his teammates. In 2002, the Baltimore Ravens drafted Terry Jones. He played with the Ravens four years until he was released by Baltimore and finished his fourth season with the San Francisco 49ers when they claimed him off waivers. He was resigned by the 49ers for the 2005-2006 season. In addition to coaching, he works as a real estate investor. His parents are Terry W. Jones Sr. and Willie Mays Jones. His mother is an attorney for Legal Services in Tuscaloosa. His father, who played at Alabama followed by 8 years with Alicia and Terry the Green Bay Packers, is a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Alabama. He is married to Alicia, a native of Mobile, Alabama who is also a licensed attorney. Bud King - Statistician Tiger Managers 16 Zaneta Lewis, Matthew Gunther, Alexis Brown, Zaneta Lewis
Grant Peacock - Sports Medicine Coordinator Grant Peacock has more than 25 years of experience with orthopedic and sports physical therapy. He has a long history in sports rehabilitation, including serving in the role of Deputy Chief of Games Operations/ Venue Operations for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee, as well as serving as the Founding President of the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association. He has also served the United States Olympic Committee as a voting member and Administrator for Disabled Athlete events for two different Olympic Sports Festival programs. Grant received his B.S. degree in Physical Education in 1975 and a Master of Education degree in Adapted Physical Education in 1987, both from Springfield College. He also holds a B.S. degree in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac College. Medical Staff Children s Healthcare of Atlanta Matt is a Certified Athletic Trainer with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. He earned his Masters of Education in Sports Administration from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. While in Nashville he worked at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, at Belmont University and in the local high school outreach program. Prior to moving to Nashville, Matt graduated from Southern Illinois University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with a specialization in Athletic Training. While at SIU he worked with the football, track and field, and basketball teams. Before attending SIU he served in the U.S. Army for 2 years. He now resides in Buford, GA, with his wife of six years. Matt Kicklighter M.ED, ATC Certified Athletic Trainer A SPECIAL THANK YOU to our partners: Children s Healthcare of Atlanta for providing our Trainer and Team Doctors! Thomas F. Byars, M.D. Medical Director, Sports Medicine Stephanie S. Martin, M.D. Co-Surgical Director, Sports Medicine Program, 17