David Bishop didn’t know what path he would set foot on after he stepped down as North Hall’s football coach in 2021.
He had coached football for three decades – 21 spent in the green and white. When that path suddenly veered to the right, he began looking for the next opportunity to lead a program.
Bishop applied for jobs and was offered several but never accepted.
“When I stepped down in 2021, I didn’t know what my next steps were,” he said. “When my dad told me he had six months to live, I knew I didn’t need to be coaching in 2022. Being a coach for as long as I was, it was just a natural thought to go do what you’ve done, and those doors were closed. So for me, it was, OK, God, what do you want next? I’m good, I’m going to follow, and I’m going to listen. I’m not going to jump.”
In May, Bishop tossed his name in the hat for the open athletic director post at Chestatee High School. It was an opportunity to lead again, just in a different role.
He was hired to replace Matt Stowers in early June.
“I honestly feel that this is where God called me to be and what He called me to do,” he said. “My mindset has changed a lot, and one of the things that I believe in whole heartily is, as a coach, we want to impact our kids, whatever that looks like. So, there’s a new generation of young coaches out there that maybe I’m able to help build a culture with within this school and program, and now my leadership may help them impact a larger number of students in the process and help them in their growth journey.”
Bishop has only been on the job for over a week, but he’s already settling into the AD chair.
“It’s been pretty neat already,” he said. “I’ve got to meet a half-dozen coaches and some I already knew here. It’s neat to see some of the young coaches that are starting their careers and be able to give some advice. I’m also just glad to be a part of this community.”
Bishop said he’s watched Chestatee grow as an athletic program from the outside for several years. He wants that growth to continue under his direction.
“I’ve seen a movement in a positive direction,” he said. “So, when you put all the programs together, there is movement in the right direction. I want to take us from being close and consistent to being more competitive as a whole. For me, the exciting piece while in the offseason, there were a lot of changes in the coaching staff, that’s exciting. Because we get to cast our vision together and build this program to get it to be where it’s a place where people will pay attention to things that are going on here.”
Bishop said he’d never say never when it comes to getting back on the sidelines but did say he believes Chestatee is his final destination.
“I believe I am where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to be doing,” he said. “I don’t have a focus on getting back into coaching, but God has an interesting way of changing our paths. So, I’m looking at it as the path that he’s brought me to, and I’m going to stay on it until the end.”
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/6/1190135/faith-a-big-part-of-bishops-decision-to-take-chestatee-ad-job