FLOWERY BRANCH -- Duke Mullis knows firsthand just how good the Flowery Branch boys basketball program can be.
After all, the Falcons defeated Mullis' West Forsyth teams three times last season -- including in the Region 7-AAA tournament.
But it wasn't just the Falcons recent success that prompted Mullis to accept the position of boys head basketball coach at Flowery Branch.
"This is an area that, long term, can always be competitive," said Mullis on Sunday before being introduced as the Falcons next coach by athletic director Shannon Benton. "I obviously know they've got a lot of good talent here right now. But I'm not just coming here for two years and then leaving. I know they've got the ability to be good for a long time."
Mullis -- who takes over from departed coach Todd Cottrell, who left for the same position at Gainesville High -- knows a thing or two about talent. Before signing on to coach at West Forsyth, Mullis coached 11 seasons at Chattahoochee High School and for three years at Middle Georgia College in Cochran before that.
Mullis averaged 19 wins per year at Chattahoochee, including three region titles and five sweet 16 state playoff appearances. His teams also put together a 36-game region winning streak and a 24-game home unbeaten run. His 2004 Chattahoochee squad was ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA, and he sent 15 different players to the collegiate ranks.
"I watched his teams at Chattahoochee, and I've talked to college coaches who took his players, and they all said his players were fundamentally sound, knew the game and didn't make mistakes," Benton said. "That's how I want our kids to play."
Benton said he hand-picked Mullis from an impressive list of candidates that he narrowed down to three before offering the job to Mullis on Tuesday (April 15).
Mullis said he didn't have to think long before making a decision.
"This one was pretty easy," said Mullis, who's originally from Warner Robins. "It's a win-win situation with the talent-level and the facilities that Flowery Branch has. I'm passionate about what I do, and I know that Flowery Branch is passionate about sports too."
Falcons fans certainly have reason to be optimistic. Flowery Branch will return the bulk of the team that went 26-4 last season and won the Region 7-AAA title for the first time.
"They were like watching a well-oiled machine," Mullis said of the 2007-8 Falcons. "They were fun to watch."
Mullis said he doesn't have a style that he sticks to exclusively but will adapt his teams to the talent available.
"I'm not hung up on one offensive or defensive scheme," Mullis said. "But I do like to run a man-to-man defense and a motion offense."
Benton, who also recently filled the girls basketball coaching position for the Falcons, says he's excited about Mullis and glad to have the search behind him.
"I'm happy for the kids," Benton said. "We're all going to miss Todd [Cottrell]. The kids are going to miss him too. But this is just another step in the growing and maturing process.
"Our guys are going to continue to succeed."
Thursday
January 30th, 2025
5:37AM
