Coach Jesse McLeod inducted into GBCA Hall of Fame

 

Ten of the state’s most successful retired coaches were inducted into the first Georgia Basketball Coaches Association (GBCA) Hall of Fame over the weekend.

One of the ten included Seminole County’s Jesse McLeod who was inducted at Saturday’s ceremony held  at the Gateway Arena in College Park on March 23. 

Coach McLeod was an educator and coach for Seminole County Schools for over 30 years. He led the girls’ team to a state championship in 1984, 1987 and 1989, and compiled a record of 589-216 during his storied career.

Jesse McLeod began his coaching career in Seminole County in 1972.  Initially, he coached seventh and eighth grade girls basketball and B-team boys basketball from 1972 until 1977.  In 1977, he began a long and storied tenure coaching the Seminole County High School varsity girls basketball team.  His teams held the state championship titles in 1984, 1987 and 1989.  Also, in 1985 and 1986, his teams lost in the championship games and were state runner ups.  In his long tenure as the head coach of the Lady Indians Basketball program, Jesse McLeod was presented with many accolades.  Coach McLeod was named the Atlanta Tip-Off Club and Naismith Coach of the Year in 1984, 1986, 1987 and 1989.  He was named the Atlanta Constitution Coach of the Year in 1984, 1987 and 1989 and the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994 and 1995.  In 1987, 1988 and 1989, he was the Georgia representative for the National Coach of the Year.  Coach McLeod also was elected to coach the Georgia All Star game in 1984.  Mr. McLeod was the assistant coach in 1995 and the head coach in 1996 for the Georgia/Tennessee All Star Game.  In addition to his high school coaching recognitions, he also coached the Georgia AAU Champions in 1987 in which his team finished third in the nation.

With a 73% winning percentage in all games, his teams earned the right to compete in the GHSA state playoffs 30 out of his 33 years.  He created a legacy of girls high school basketball at Seminole County High School and in south Georgia that all ensuing teams are measured against.  The current gym at Seminole County High School was named in his honor.  

Not only a coach at Seminole County High School, Coach McLeod held the positions of teacher, assistant principal, principal, superintendent, and athletic director at some point during his tenure.

Coach Jesse McLeod passed away in 2012.  He is survived by his wife Norma Mims McLeod, two children, Jill McLeod Johnson and Kyle McLeod and five grandchildren, Ty Moulton, Drew Moulton, Jillian Johnson, Addison Johnson and Grady McLeod.  

In addition to McLeod the other nine coaches inducted included Ron Bradley – State’s all-time leader in wins (1,372) in a 49-year career spanning eight high schools. Bradley won 1,019 games as a boys coach and 353 as a girls coach.

Alvin Copeland – Won 881 games and boys state championship in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1985 and 2002 in 39 seasons (1973-2011) as head coach at Northeast in Macon.

Charles Cooper – Career record of 1,009-428 coaching girls at Morven, Brooks County, Suwanee and Lowndes His1977-80 Lowndes teams won 124 straight games and four state championships in the highest class.

Aaron Geter – Won 10 boys state titles at Wilkinson County in 20 seasons with a 553-72 record. Most state championship of any boys coach since World War II.

Angie Hembree – Won 529 games and girls state titles in the highest classification in 2001, 2002 and 2005 at Collins Hill and 2010, 2011 and 2015 at Norcross. Was high school coach for WNBA stars Maya Moore of Collins Hill and Diamond DeShields of Norcross.

Eddie Martin – Career record of 852-263 with nine boys state titles. Only coach in Georgia history with at least two championships at three schools (Norcross, Greater Atlanta Christian, Buford). Coach of NBA players Malcolm Brogdon, Gani Lawal, Jeremy Lamb and Al-Farouq Aminu.

Rufus McDuffie – More than 600 career victories with boys state titles in 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999 and 1991 at Mitchell-Baker. Also coached at Washington County (2002-06) and Valdosta (2006-11).

Matt Troutman – Led Taylor County’s girls teams for 40 seasons. Finished with 911 wins and state titles in 1988, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2003 and 2015, and

Joe Williams – Career record of 1,015-204. Won state titles in 1978 (Clay County) and 1986, 2004, 2005 (Randolph-Clay). Teams had 90-game winning streak from 2004 to 2006. Coached NBA player Donnell Harvey.

Each inductee received a jacket and ring at ceremonies Saturday at Gateway Arena, which was the site for the GBCA’s four all-star games.