FCA North Georgia Coaches Show

FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast, Recorded live at Longstreet Café, Riverside Terrace as a part of the My Country 99.3 WCON Podcast Family.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

This week on the FCA Wednesday Huddle, Joel Williams and Clint Fair sit down at Longstreet Café with Coach Kyle Hardy, Head Baseball Coach of the Jefferson Dragons, for our first baseball-focused episode. Coach Hardy shares his Jefferson roots, his journey from player to coach, and the culture that makes Jefferson athletics special.

You'll also hear how FCA Team Time is shaping the Dragons beyond the diamond, including the powerful "One Word" tradition and what it looks like when faith becomes real inside a locker room.

• Why baseball is "the greatest game" (and why the defense starts with the ball)

• Coach Hardy's Jefferson story: from 3rd baseman (2010 grad) to head coach at age 30

• How Jefferson coaches support each other across sports (true community culture)

• Building a program without burning out players or families (efficient practices + priorities)

• Scheduling strategy, weather challenges, and why turf fields matter

• The real impact of FCA inside Jefferson Baseball: Team Time, "Build," and leadership

• A powerful testimony of a player stepping toward faith in front of the whole team

FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast, Recorded live at Longstreet Café, Riverside Terrace as a part of the My Country 99.3 WCON Podcast Family.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

Guests:

• Coach Charlemagne Gibbons (Gainesville High School Boys Basketball)

• Coach Vanessa White (Gainesville High School Girls Basketball)

This week on the Wednesday Huddle, Joel and Clint sit down at Longstreet Cafe with two leaders on the Gainesville High basketball sidelines. Coach Charlemagne Gibbons (boys) and Coach Vanessa White (girls) talk postseason preparation, building culture, and how FCA's core values show up in the everyday moments that shape student-athletes.

• FCA season rhythm: Clint shares what's happening across North Georgia as winter sports wrap and spring sports begin, plus upcoming staff training at Real Time (Orlando).

• A special year for Gainesville Boys: Coach Gibbons reflects on an incredible regular season and the mindset that matters most when the pressure rises: "32 minutes a night" and finding a way to finish one point ahead.

• Defense and identity: Why defense has been a key ingredient, and how Gainesville's size and discipline create a consistent edge.

• Gainesville Girls building for the future: Coach White shares how a young roster is growing fast, why she challenged them with a tougher schedule, and what she's seeing as they learn to execute and play together.

• Roles win games: Both coaches highlight the power of every player bringing their "piece of the puzzle" to the team, from starters to the "spark plug" off the bench.

• FCA on campus: How faith-based leadership and character development support team culture, discipline, and unity.

• Coaching influence: Coaches who shaped them, including the impact of Coach Gene Durden, and how leadership is formed through life lessons, not just X's and O's.

• What makes Gainesville special: The tradition, community support, and "college campus feel" that sets Gainesville apart.

• Fun rapid-fire: If they weren't coaching basketball, what would they be doing? (One answer includes a tiny house school bus and a LOT of travel.)

FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast, Recorded live at Longstreet Café, Riverside Terrace as a part of the My Country 99.3 WCON Podcast Family.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

Episode Summary The FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast rolls into the winter sports season from Longstreet Cafe (Riverside Terrace in Gainesville) and this week, it's all about wrestling.

Joel Williams and Clint Fair sit down with James Meyer, the young head wrestling coach at West Hall High School, to talk about the rapid growth of wrestling in Georgia, why girls wrestling is exploding, what fans should know about duels vs tournaments, and how the sport develops toughness that translates to football and beyond.

They also dig into what wrestling looks like through the lens of FCA, including team huddles, "mat talk" before tournaments, and James' passion for building athletes into godly leaders, not just better competitors. Plus, James shares his unforgettable experience on an FCA wrestling mission trip to Brazil, where the sport opened doors for life-changing conversations.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Why wrestling is growing in Georgia (numbers + skill level)

• The influence of MMA/UFC and year-round training

• Girls wrestling and what it looks like at West Hall

• Wrestling formats: duals, tris/quads, tournaments, individual vs dual state titles

• The importance of youth programs and why pipelines matter

• Parent concerns (yes… even cauliflower ears 😄)

• How FCA shows up in wrestling: huddles, devotions, mat talk, discipleship

• Middle school FCA growth and student-led leadership

• James' Brazil trip and why "sport first" breaks down walls fast

FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast, Recorded live at Longstreet Café, Riverside Terrace as a part of the My Country 99.3 WCON Podcast Family.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

This week on the FCA North Georgia Coaches Show Wednesday Huddle, Joel Williams and Clint Fair sit down at Longstreet Cafe (Riverside Terrace) with Rabun County's basketball coaching duo: 🏀 Didi Dillard, Head Coach of the Lady Wildcats 🏀 David Adcock, Head Coach of the Wildcats

This episode that blends basketball, leadership, faith, community, and plenty of laughs. The coaches discuss navigating weather disruptions that keep teams out of the gym, how injuries impact momentum and depth, and why Rabun County's culture (family, toughness, and community investment) continues to produce winning programs.

They also dig into the confusing reality of postseason rankings (PSR) and how scheduling is now influenced by formulas like opponents' win percentage, making "just schedule a rivalry game" a lot more complicated.

Plus: ✅ The Rabun County "mountain mentality" and why teams underestimate them ✅ Border rivalries (Banks, Union, Habersham) and why Friday nights get loud ✅ What Gunner Stockton and Charlie Woerner represent to the next generation ✅ Why FCA is a critical part of the programs and a "safe, legal" way to share the Gospel ✅ Sneakers, mission trips, halftime devotionals… and yes, pickleball makes an appearance 😄

FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast, Recorded live at Longstreet Café, Riverside Terrace as a part of the My Country 99.3 WCON Podcast Family.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

It's the FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast, recorded at Longstreet Cafe in Gainesville with host My Country's, Joel Williams and special co-host Josh Barrett (filling in for Clint Fair). This week, the focus shifts to Flowery Branch basketball with guests David Hawkins (Boys Head Coach, Year 3) and Tyler Sanders (Girls Head Coach, Year 1).

The conversation covers building a program in a tough region, the value of controlling what you can control (effort, attitude, body language), using social media as a positive tool, and the importance of community support across all sports on campus. The coaches also share what it's like coaching each other's kids, balancing family life with a year-round season, and why FCA matters in developing young men and women beyond the scoreboard.

FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast Recorded live at Longstreet Café, Riverside Terrace as a part of the My Country 99.3 WCON Podcast Family.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

Joel Williams and Clint Fair kick off 2026 by welcoming Buford Wolves Head Coach Brian Applin, fresh off a state championship (Buford's 15th) and national recognition.

Coach Applin breaks down "The Buford Way" and what triple-A excellence really means: excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts, plus doing the little things the right way, even when nobody's watching. He shares the mentors who shaped him (including Dexter Wood, Jess Simpson, and Dickie May), how he keeps practice competitive and fast-paced, and why "winning at home" matters just as much as winning on Friday night.

The conversation also gets real, as Coach talks family, balancing the demands of coaching, and what led he and his wife to become foster parents. Great stories, great perspective, and a perfect way to start the new year.

FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast Recorded live at Longstreet Café, Riverside Terrace as a part of the My Country 99.3 WCON Podcast Family.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

Episode Notes:

This powerful episode of the FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast features Clint Fair, longtime FCA leader, former collegiate baseball standout, and a living testimony of redemption and restoration. Broadcasting from Longstreet Cafe in Gainesville, the conversation begins with championship football talk and transitions into an unforgettable personal journey that spans athletics, addiction, loss, faith, and calling.

Clint shares his rise as a standout athlete at Johnson High School and Georgia Southern, his experience in the prestigious Cape Cod League, and the devastating consequences of poor choices that changed his life forever. With honesty and humility, he walks listeners through addiction, incarceration, surrender, and ultimately a renewed life in Christ. Now in his 18th year with FCA, Clint oversees more than 60 counties across North Georgia, serving coaches and athletes with a mission to transform lives through faith and relationships.

This episode also dives into the evolving landscape of high school athletics, replay controversy in championship games, NIL trickle-down concerns, and the importance of purity, perspective, and patience in sports. It's a candid, heartfelt, and hope-filled conversation that reminds us all: God is never finished with your story.

FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast Recorded live at Longstreet Café, Riverside Terrace – part of the My Country 99.3 WCON Podcast Family

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

Episode Notes:

In this episode, Joel Williams and FCA North Georgia's Clint Fair sit down with Chestatee High School Athletic Director & Assistant Principal Dave Bishop to pull back the curtain on what life is really like behind the scenes of a high school athletic program.

They talk about:

• What it means to be AP from 8–4 and AD after that

• How fast-growing sports like girls flag football, volleyball, girls wrestling, cross country and more are changing the calendar

• NIL and transfers at the high school level and what it's doing to the "purity" of prep sports

• The true cost of running a football program and why Friday nights are about much more than tickets and hot dogs

• How Chestatee is focusing on connectedness so more students find their place, whether it's sports, chorus, drama, skills competitions or CTAE programs

• Hosting the historic Lanierland basketball tournament finals and what it takes to serve the whole community well

• Dave's long FCA journey: from huddle coach at North Hall, to mission trips, to now sensing a call to pour back into coaches

Dave also shares how God led him into teaching, coaching, and now administration, and why his heartbeat is simple: help people wherever God puts him.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. Learn more at : Longstreet Cafe

Get involved with FCA North Georgia: https://www.ngafca.org/

The Music That Made Country Great: https://www.mycountry993.com/

Welcome back to the FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast, live from Longstreet Café – Riverside Terrace in Gainesville, GA!

In this episode, Joel WIlliams with My Coubntry 99.3 WCON and Clint Fair welcome Coach Joe Dix, head coach of East Hall Vikings boys basketball, for a powerful conversation on:

• Starting the season 0–5 and coaching through adversity
• Losing star players to injuries and early graduation for college football
• Tough early-season schedule vs Grayson, Archer, Cambridge, North Hall & more
• His state championship run at East Hall and later success at Collins Hill
• Coaching future star Travis Hunter and watching him shine in college
• The tradition and atmosphere of the Lanierland Tournament
• How Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) impacts East Hall's players and coaches

Coach Dix is in year 30 on the bench and still evolving—revamping practices, deepening scouting, and growing right alongside his players. If you love Georgia high school basketball, leadership, FCA, and faith-based coaching, this is your kind of episode.

Rivalry week in North Georgia isn't just about "clean old-fashioned hate" between the Dawgs and the Jackets, it's also about what God is doing on both campuses.

In this special Thanksgiving episode of the FCA North Georgia Coaches Podcast, recorded at Longstreet Cafe – Riverside Terrace in Gainesville, My Country 99.3 WCON Host Joel Williams and North Georgia FCA Area Director Clint Fair sit down with:

• GT Chaplin, David Snell – Area Director for Georgia Tech FCA, longtime Buford coach, and chaplain to the Yellow Jackets football program

• UGA Chaplin, Thomas Settles – Area Director for UGA FCA and chaplain to the Georgia Bulldogs football program

Together they talk about:

• How FCA opens doors for real ministry inside two major college football programs

• What discipleship, Bible studies, and "ministry of presence" look like for coaches and players

• How they navigate social media noise, pressure, NIL, and short football careers with an eternal perspective

• The surprising ways players and coaches stay connected long after their time on campus

• Why Thanksgiving week and rivalry week are such powerful times to point athletes to Christ

You'll also hear some great stories about weddings, team chapels, late-night film sessions, and how these chaplains keep their own families grounded in the middle of a hectic football season.

Presented by Longstreet Cafe – fueling North Georgia (and a whole lot of FCA ministry) with two Gainesville locations. 👉 Learn more: Longstreet Cafe

If this episode encourages you, share it with a coach, athlete, or fellow Dawg/Jacket fan this week!