Newspaper Page Text
SPORTS
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 15 -21, 2024 • PAGE 10
Panthers coach
reaches milestone
Eugene Brown (center) got his 300th win as a DeKalb County coach after getting win No. 400 as a high school
coach in 2023’s region title game. Photo provided
BY MARK BROCK
Southwest DeKalb High
School boys' basketball
head coach Eugene Brown
got his 300th career win
in DeKalb County on Jan.
9 when his Panthers team
defeated Stephenson 47-32.
The milestone win
for Brown comes after
17 seasons of coaching
in DeKalb County School
District for Southwest
DeKalb and Stone Mountain
high schools.
Brown now has a
record of 304-165 and
a 64.8 percent win after
spending 2001-2006 at
Stone Mountain (108-58)
and returning to Southwest
DeKalb where he has been
for 11 seasons (196-107).
"When you have a role
in positively influencing the
lives of young students, it
is not about the records
and accomplishment but
the events and lessons
that occur in between
that forever impact their
character," said Brown.
"There's no better way to
repay the opportunities
afforded you than to help
the young people you
influence to reach their
full potential as students,
athletes, and productive
citizens."
In his six seasons at
Stone Mountain, he had
playoff appearances in
2003-2004 and a 26-5
record and state semifinal
game in 2004.
Brown then coached
at Alcovy High School in
Covington, Georgia, from
2007 to 2013. He had a
106-87 record with a pair
of region titles at the non-
DeKalb school. Combined
with his 304-165 record
in DeKalb, Brown has a
career total of 410-252 (62
percent) over 25 seasons.
His 400th career victory
came in a 53-45 win over
Holy Innocent's in the
Region 6-4A title game in
2023.
Brown and the Panthers
returned to the playoffs
and reached the Elite 8 in
2016, which was Brown's
third season back in DeKalb.
He has seven state playoff
appearances at Southwest
DeKalb, including back-to-
back semifinal runs in 2019
(24-7) and 2020 (19-13).
"When you've been
at it for this long, there's
probably hundreds of
people to thank, but first
and foremost, I thank my
wife and family for allowing
me to be in the gym as
much as I have been," said
Brown. "I also need to
thank my coaching staffs
and administrative staffs for
helping me to develop and
guide the student athletes."
Brown continued,
"The athlete's parents
are also to be thanked for
trusting us to help develop
the skills and character of
their children. Finally, the
players themselves that are
receptive to being coached
hard as we wouldn't be here
without them."
His playoff
accomplishments include
three semifinal appearances,
four Elite 8 runs, and six
trips to the Sweet 16.
PLAYOFF
Continued From Page 9
6 tournament. Results were unknown at
press time, but any DeKalb teams that
advance will play in the semifinals or finals
scheduled for Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 at Holy
Innocents High School. Semifinal games will
occur at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Feb. 16; the
championship is scheduled for Feb. 17 at 4
p.m.
In Class 2A Region 5, Columbia, McNair,
Redan, and Towers all played on Feb. 12 and
Feb. 13, with results unknown at press time.
Winners will advance to the semifinals on
Feb. 15 at Eagle's Landing Christian Academy
at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The championship is
scheduled for the same venue at 7 p.m. on
Feb. 16.
Drew Charter will play in Class 2A Region
6's tournament. If Drew Charter wins its first
three games, it will play in the finals on Feb.
16 at 7 p.m. at Mt. Paran High School.
Greenforest played in the Class 1A D-ll
championship on Feb. 12 at Columbia, but
results were unknown at press time.
Following the completion of region
tournaments, playoff schedules will be
posted at GHSA.net/basketball.
FOR MORE SPORTS
STORIES VISIT US ONLINE ©
THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM
Holding a basketball, Southwest DeKalb head coach Kathy Richey-Walton
celebrates with her team and coaches after getting career-win No. 500.
SWD
Continued From Page 9
who wanted the student athletes at Southwest DeKalb to
be successful," added Walton. "I feel fortunate to be in the
right place at the right time, and I'm not sure if we could
have accomplished so much anywhere else. Also, my family
has been such a tremendous support through this journey."
In addition to the 500 wins, Walton was named the
2008 and 2010 Garland F. Pinholster High School Coach
of the Year, the 2009 Black Coaches and Administrators
National High School Coach of the Year, the 2009 Bobby
Cremins State Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2010, the 2008
DeKalb County Coach of the Year, and the 2009 Georgia
Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Dance Teacher of the Year. Walton was also named the 2014
Southwest DeKalb High School Teacher of the Year.
Walton also coached the Southwest DeKalb Lady
Panthers to the program's 1,000th win in 2022. In 2023,
Walton and her staff were selected to coach in the
McDonald's High School All-American girls' game.
The Champion Editor Jay Phillips contributed to this
piece.
