GAINESVILLE — Benjie Wood won a lot of games with Gainesville boys basketball, including Lanierland tournaments, region crowns and reaching a state championship game.
For all that success, however, it is a moment away from the spotlight of competition that might be his favorite memory with the Red Elephants.
“Last week in the shoot-around before the state championship game, right after we got finished, every single one of my players went over and shook our athletic director’s hand and said, ‘thank you,’ without me having to tell them,” said Wood, whose 2017-18 squad became just the second in program history to play for a state title since the Red Elephants won back-to-back crowns in 1983-84.
“It’s a little thing, but it’s also a big part of what we have always tried to do here, which is use basketball as a tool to teach these guys to become young men.”
It is moments like that, and the relationships therein, that Wood carries with him. And it is the same formula he will employ at Cherokee Bluff when he takes over the brand new program next season.
“Everything revolves around relationships,” said Wood, a 1990 Buford High graduate who joins the Bears after stints at Madison County, Johnson, North Hall and Gainesville. “We’re already starting to develop those.”
Beyond the pressure defenses and continuous motion of his teams, Wood says that is the constant in his coaching doctrine.
“I think we were able to accomplish a lot here at Gainesville, especially with helping boys become men,” Wood said. “We wanted to teach them to play the right way and to give of themselves for each other, to learn how to handle adversity and absorb life lessons that will last for them along the way.”
As far as the success on the court, Wood put that down to something less controllable.
“We won a lot of games, and that’s pretty good — but a lot of that was because we had some very good players,” said Wood, who is still absorbing the disappointment of Friday’s Class 6A championship loss to Langston Hughes but also now scrambling to fill next season’s schedule with Cherokee Bluff.
Yet even after graduating the bulk of the team that won 98 games in four years — including senior standouts KJ Buffen, Bailey Minor, Xavier Bledson, Ka’Juan Hale and Jarred and Jarrel Rosser — Wood believes his former program will not take a big step back in 2018-19.
“Gainesville has had great athletes since Gainesville has been a school; there are still good players here,” said Wood, who built a 114-33 record with the Red Elephants. “Yes, they’re graduating a lot of talent, but there’s a lot coming back.”
Junior point guard Brent Kelly and sophomore guard Rafael Rubel will be looked to for leadership next season.
“They just need to continue their course,” said Wood, whose parting advice to the next Gainesville coach was simple: “Just be yourself.
“I’m so thankful for (former Gainesville athletic director) Wayne Vickery and (former Gainesville High Principal) Marianne Dyer for reaching out to me five years ago,” Wood said. “They were tremendous. I’m also thankful for the help that our new athletic director Adam Lindsey has given me and everyone who has supported the program. I wish them all nothing but the best.”
Now Wood will look to build success with a brand new program and continue the same trends he enjoyed at previous schools over a 24-year career that also includes two state semifinals appearances with the Johnson girls (2005-06) and two state semifinals with the North Hall boys (2010 and ’13).
“We’re going do what we do style-wise,” Wood said, whose three Hall County programs have each employed similar offenses and defenses. “I’m very excited because the administration, including (Principal) Wesley McGee and (athletic director) Kenny Hill are top-notch guys, and they’re already using the word ‘family’ for the atmosphere they want to develop at the school.”
Wood has the added benefit of true familial relationships in his new posting.
“I’m really excited because I’m going to be able to do this with my family. My daughter (Avery) will be in the same school with me, and my wife (Nicole) will also be working in the same school. And my son (Cooper) will be going through the same school when he gets old enough,” Wood said. “Coaching is great, but being a daddy is my No. 1 thing, and coaches have long hours so this will allow them to be with me more. I’m so thankful for that.”
