OAKWOOD -- Johnson High Principal Stan Lewis and Athletic Director Matt Stowers had a productive day Wednesday filling the vacancies of two coaching positions.
Early in the day they announced Owen Gifford had been selected as the new wrestling coach. Later, they announced that Buford boys assistant coach Tim Slater had been chosen to be the boys basketball coach.
Slater, who served the past two years as an assistant for the Wolves, replaces Jeff Steele, who recently resigned to accept a position at Lumpkin County High School, after leading the Knights to a school record 270 wins during his 16-years as the Knights’ coach.
Slater helped lead the Wolves had a Sweet 16 appearance in Class AAAA and to the Class AAA championship game in 2014. Prior to teaching and coaching at Buford, Slater was head coach for two years at Robert Tombs Christian Academy in Lyons, Ga., where his team won the Region 2-A title in 2013 and advanced to the Elite 8 of the GISA State Championships. Slater was named Coach of the Year for Region 2-A in 2012-2013.
Gifford had previously served as physical education teacher and head wrestling coach at Savannah Christian Preparatory High School for two years. HIs wrestling program qualified the first wrestlers for the district and state tournaments in school history and also developed a youth program. In addition, he was the head soccer coach and was twice named Region Coach Of The Year.
Both are still pending board approval.
