“Press Box Perspective” continued from page 11
I make no secret of the fact that to this day my favorite coaching role model is the great Vince Lombardi of Green Bay Packers fame. When I went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, one of the first things I saw was a bench taken from Lambeau Field that had been on the sideline for Lombardi’s last game there. I reached over the barrier, breaking all the rules, just to press my finger against it for a second. If you’ve never read the Lombardi biography “ When Pride Still Mattered ” by David Maraniss I encourage you to pick up a copy. And for all the complainers, I leave you with one of Lombardi’s greatest quotes, one I think is great to live a life by. “Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all of the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.”
* Congratulations to the following winners of major awards at the recent N.C. Athletic Directors Association gathering in Asheville. • Athletic trainer of the year - Danielle Edgerton. • Distinguished alumni award - Dr. Rob Jackson. • Officials of excellence - Anthony Maynor, Jay McCarraher, Garry Russ, Brad Shrader, Bruce Stevenson, Ray Thomas. • Braveheart award - Darrell Purcell. • MS AD of excellence - Carey Galbreath. • Citation awards -Zachery Bennett, Christopher Blake, Matt Carpenter, Chase Cochran, David Rines, Mandy Peele McMillan, Robbie St. John. • Athletic directors of excellence - Chad Barbour, Brian Bourque, David Fernandez, Drew Hackett, Reese Felder, Morgan King, Shannon McLaughlin, Robert Weindenburner. • Rusty Lee professional development award - Leslie Reeves. • Leadership award of merit - Matt Davis. • State award of merit - Steve Robinson. • NCADA Special recognition - Matt Davis. * The N.C. High School Athletic Association recently announced its 2026 Hall of Fame Class: • Michael Baker, longtime Fairmont coach and athletic director. • Zoe Bell, volleyball coach at Providence and Ardrey Kell. • Patty Evers, East Bladen basketball coach and athletic director. • Greg Frey, Morehead wrestling coach. • Vicki Hamilton, Charlotte-Mecklenburg athletic director. • B.W. Holt, football coach at Franklinton, Starmount, Rocky Mount Academy and Rocky Mount. • Leo Lockhart, multiple sport official. • Bobby Reynolds, Cherryville and East Rutherford baseball coach. The induction ceremony will be August 15th at Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
In memoriam James “Rabbit” Fulghum Greene Central Steve Hollemon Cary Tommy Pruett Burns Steve Spivey Broughton
NC Coach • Spring 2026 • Page 13 • nccoach.org
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