Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School has announced its slate of new head coaches for the 2019-2020 school year.
Courtney Ledford ‘08 will take over the varsity volleyball head coach position this fall. As a former Lady Eagle herself, Coach Ledford brings a unique alumni perspective to the volleyball program. She played seven years of volleyball at Rabun Gap and served as a team captain during her time as a student. She was a setter and libero.
“I’m really looking forward to stepping in as the varsity coach and program leader. Not many coaches get the chance to coach at their alma mater, so it is very special to me to be given this opportunity at a school that already means so much to me,” she says.
This is Coach Ledford’s fifth year coaching volleyball, and she has experience working with all ages and levels of play. She’s worked extensively with the Trailblazers Volleyball Club, leading the organization’s developmental team, and has already been a part of several elite coaching clinics this summer. Last year, Coach Ledford was the head coach of Rabun Gap’s middle school volleyball team and led the girls to a Tri-State Conference Championship. She hopes to continue that success at the varsity level.
“In my first year as head coach, I will be working to better unite all three teams in the program and implementing showcase days for our youngest athletes. For the varsity team specifically, I would love to see us earn our first bid to the state playoffs,” Coach Ledford says.
Athletic Director Dale Earnhardt says he’s excited to have an alumna leading the volleyball program. Girls will report for Sports Camp in early August to get a head start on the 2019 season.
“We are very lucky to have Courtney taking over our volleyball program this fall,” says Earnhardt. “Her love for this school and our volleyball program as an alumna of Rabun Gap will serve our student-athletes well.”
Coach Ledford is the wife of Jamey Ledford, Eagles wrestling head coach and Middle School history teacher. They live on campus with their sons Jackson and Cael.
Baseball
Clark Wright is the Eagles’ newest head baseball coach. Wright comes to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School after a successful playing and coaching career that spanned across the United States and around the globe.
Coach Wright has an extensive background in leading baseball programs and helping his players earn college scholarships. He played as a shortstop and second baseman at Episcopal High School in Virginia before heading to the University of Georgia. Coach Wright played for the UGA junior varsity/feeder team that was ranked No. 2 in the country. After graduation, he moved to New York City and became Director of Baseball for Yorkville Athletics for four years, running one of the largest little leagues in the U.S. and working with MLB trainers. He’s also coached hitting and infield for the national showcase team US Elite with players selected for the MLB draft and he led North Charleston High School to the South Carolina playoffs in 2019 for the first time in a decade.
In 2018, Coach Wright was recruited by the European Baseball League to play and coach professionally in Hungary. He played for a season on the Debrecen Tigers and was the team’s head coach. He also worked with the U18 Hungarian National Team as their hitting coach.
Coach Wright has big goals for the Rabun Gap baseball program both on and off the field. He plans to build leadership and wants to accomplish making the playoffs, being the best team in the CAA Conference, and setting a foundation to be one of the best programs in the state.
“First and foremost, I hope to accomplish a cohesive unit of brothers that want each other to be successful on and off the field. The most important thing for me is to use baseball as a tool to teach life. I want the baseball team to be leaders on campus – helping others and competing in the classroom as well as the field,” he says. “ I would like to set the tone that whenever a team plays us they know we will battle to the last play and leave it all on the field. I want our jerseys to be dirty after every game.”
Coach Wright will live on campus and teach humanities in the Upper School. He was born in New York City and is a huge Yankees fan who loves history, travel, music, and the positive impact he can make as a teacher and coach.
“I would like to thank my family for believing in me and my dream to become a teacher and coach, and God for opening these pathways for me. It is an absolute honor to coach at Rabun Gap. Rabun Gap embodies the desire to be successful on the field, in the classroom, and as a community teammate,” he says. “Rabun Gap Baseball, under the leadership of Stuart Jump and past coaches, has made a great impact on the league and past players. I hope I can follow in their footsteps to continue the success of a great program.”
“We are thrilled to have Clark leading our baseball program,” Earnhardt says. “I know he will continue to build a legacy of excellence for Rabun Gap Baseball. His coaching and playing experience are a huge asset to our program.”
New coach lineup
Other new head coaches for Rabun Gap include:
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Le’Aqua Shoates, new Middle School Dean, will take over the Middle School track and field program.
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Dustin Barnes will lead the junior varsity basketball team as head coach and assist with the varsity squad. He will also serve in the classroom teaching Middle School humanities and a section of physical education.
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Madison Philbrick will serve as head coach for the Middle School girls basketball team this winter and be the varsity volleyball assistant this fall. Coach Philbrick is a community coach and lives on campus with her fiance, Dustin Barnes.
Additional head coaching changes that will be filled by current Rabun Gap faculty include:
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Stephen Karplus will serve as head coach for the varsity girls tennis team this fall, in addition to remaining at the helm of the boys team this spring.
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Jonathan BySura returns to the court as head middle school volleyball coach this fall.
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Stuart Jump will lead the middle school boys basketball team this winter.
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Community Coach Greg McMullen is moving up to become head coach for JV baseball.
“I am looking forward to welcoming our new head coaches to the Rabun Gap Eagles family,” says Eagles Athletic Director Dale Earnhardt. “We are confident in all of our coaches and expect great success from our teams at all levels of play.”
