Coming Home - Once A Leopard Always A Leopard

MING HOMEC

Once a Leopard, Always A Leopard!

It was a true Homecoming for the Leopards this Fall when many GHS alumni returned home to coach at their alma mater. The surge began with the hiring of Coach Neil Searcy, GHS Class of 1990, as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach.

“It's something that I've always wanted to do,” Searcy said. “I wanted to be able to give back to the community, to the school district, to those kids, exactly how people in the community and school district poured into me over 30 years ago.”

Immediately after announcing he was coming back to Gainesville, he began receiving phone calls from former Leopards in the coaching profession who wanted to come “home”. “I think that is huge,” Searcy said. “I was so happy to know that there were other guys that have graduated from Gainesville, been alumni of Gainesville that wanted to come back home. Gainesville is special to a lot of people… So, it was very important for me to find guys that understood what it is to be a Gainesville Leopard.” Trey Gray (‘94) came back to GHS as Offensive Coordinator after spending the past six years with Searcy in Killeen as quarterbacks coach. Chris Lewis (‘90) returned as Searcy’s Assistant Head Coach. Darrell Dennis (‘87), Robbie Newton (‘98 ), and Hunter Turbeville (‘17) also returned home to coach. There were already several GHS alumni on the coaching staff in a variety of sports, including LJ Searcy (‘03 ), Danny Franco (‘09), Hector Sagrero (‘15), and Devin Mims (‘15). On the girls side, Shateria Calhoun (‘03), also returned home to Gainesville. The first football season for the Leopards under the helm of Coach Searcy has proven successful. The Gainesville Leopards advanced to the Area playoffs and ended with a 4-2 district record and 5-7 for the season, and improvement from the recent years. “This was not my best season as far as record is concerned as a coach, but it was the most enjoyable one I have ever had,” Searcy said. “ The way the kids battled every week and never gave up in any game was special to see! For a team that was only picked to win one game, I think they proved a lot of folks wrong. I will always remember the 2022 Gainesville Leopards as the team that made us feel good about being back at home!”

Athletic success was evident in the fall in many areas. The boys cross country team, coached by Deontre Haynes, finished second in district advancing to Area. This is the highest team finish in recent history and the first team to advance to Regionals in seven years. Coach Morgan Mathews led the Gainesville volleyball team to its first playoff match in nine years, before ultimately falling to the defending I wanted to be able to give back to the community, “ state champions. The Lady Leopards to the school district, to team is young, and looks to take those kids, exactly how the success this year and build people in the community upon it for the 2023 season. The future is bright for the Leopards and Lady Leopards! GO BIG RED! and school district poured into me over 30 years ago. ”