Jason Freeman
Principal

Welcome to the Hiram High School 2011-2012 athletic season. Our vision at Hiram High focuses on academic excellence and developing citizens who will make a living, a life, and a difference. Our mission statement asks the question, will you make a difference? We feel that it takes all stakeholders working together to truly make a difference in the lives of our students in the classroom and on our athletic fields. We challenge our students, parents, staff, faculty and our entire Hiram community to join us in this endeavor. We have high expectations for every member of our “Hiram Family.”

Long before the 2011-2012 athletic season began, our coaches at Hiram were committed to developing winning programs. They have worked many long days and logged many hours over the summer putting the plans in place to build strong character and winning attitudes within all of our student-athletes. They challenge our players to push themselves beyond their limits and encourage them to realize that having a “TEAM before me", concept is essential to being successful in sports and in life. We ask you to join us in this commitment of encouraging high expectations, teamwork, and pride within our school, community, and athletic programs.

My wife, Laura, and my daughters Kiley and Ella-Kate join me in wishing all of our student-athletes, families, and coaches the very best in 2011-2012. We ask each of you to join us in the support and dedication of all of our programs at Hiram High School. Our goal is to promote a family-friendly atmosphere that radiates with our beliefs of importance of building pride and character and truly making a difference. We look forward to supporting the Hornets on and off the field and we would like to thank everyone in advance that will work so hard this year to support and provide the very best for our student-athletes. Welcome to the “Hornet’s Nest”!

Sincerely,

Jason Freeman
Principal

Andy Dorsey
Head Coach

Coach Dorsey is entering his 9th year at Hiram High School and his 6th year as the head football coach. He is a native of Powder Springs, GA and a graduate of John McEachern High School. While at McEachern, he participated in Varsity football and soccer. His senior year, he was selected to play in the North/South All-Star football game. Coach Dorsey earned a full Athletic Scholarship and graduated with a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from Tennessee Tech University. At Tech, Coach Dorsey was a 4-year starter as a punter for the football team, twice earning All-Conference honors. After Tech, Coach Dorsey served as a graduate assistant football coach at the University of West Georgia where he also earned a Master’s degree in Health and Physical Education. Coach Dorsey currently holds an Educational Specialist degree form the Lincoln Memorial University in Educational Leadership and Administration.

Coach Dorsey is married to the former Christi Meadows. They have been married for 8 years. The Dorsey’s have two children; Major (6) and Miley (3).

Email: ADorsey@paulding.k12.ga.us

Chris Brown
Defensive Coordinator, Inside LB's

Coach Brown is entering his 6th year at Hiram High School. He is a native of Mableton, GA and a graduate of the University of West Georgia where he earned his B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education and a Master's degree in Kinesiology from Georgia Southern University. Coach Brown is also the Strength & Conditioning coach for the football team. Prior to Hiram, Coach Brown was the Secondary coach and the Strength & Conditioning coach at McEachern High School for 4 years. Coach Brown was also the Linebackers coach at Hiram in 2001.

He has been married to his wife, Raquel, for 19 years. They have two sons; Christian (17) and Nathaniel (12) and a daughter; Bacilia (8).

Email: CWBrown@paulding.k12.ga.us

Matt Hardage
Offensive Line Coach

Coach Matt Hardage is a native of Powder Springs, GA. He is a 1995 graduate of John McEachern High School where he played football. Matt attended Kennesaw State University where he earned a B.S. degree in Social Science Education and a Masters degree in Kinesiology through Georgia Southern University. Prior to Hiram, Matt was an assistant offensive line coach for 5 years and assistant defensive line coach 1 year at McEachern High School. This is his 6th year at Hiram. Coach Hardage’s coaching duties are coaching the Offensive Line, Track, and teaching World History at Hiram High School. He also has the role of Director of Hiram's Middle School Football Program.

Email: MHardage@paulding.k12.ga.us

Wade Pilgrim
Offensive Coordinator, RB's

Coach Pilgrim is entering his 4th year at Hiram High School. Coach Pilgrim is a native of Cobb County. He is a 1988 graduate of McEachern High School where he played football and ran track. Wade attended Wofford College in Spartenburg, S.C. for 2 years where he played Defensive Back. He transferred to Emory and Henry College in Southwestern Virginia where he earned a B.A. degree in Geography. While at Emory and Henry he also played Defensive Back. Wade was a member of the Emory and Henry varsity golf team. Prior to Hiram, Wade coached in Carthage, Tennessee, Wheeler and McEachern High Schools in Cobb County.

Coach Pilgrim and his wife Alane have 2 daughters, India (12) and Carley (10).

Email: WPilgrim@paulding.k12.ga.us

Stan Halbrooks
Defensive Line

Coach Halbrooks is a native of Paulding County, and attended East Paulding High School. While at East Paulding, Coach Halbrooks lettered in football, wrestling, and track. Coach Halbrooks earned his Social Science degree from Kennesaw State University in 2002, and a Master's degree in 2009 from Georgia Southern University. This is Coach Halbrooks 13th year coaching and his 8th at Hiram. He coached previously at Dobbins Middle School for two years, and the Acworth You program for 3 years before that. Coach Halbrooks is also the head wrestling coach and coaches track.

Email : DHalbrooks@Paulding.k12.ga.us

Brad Thomason
Cornerbacks

Brad Thomason is a 1991 graduate of PCHS. BS degree in PE from University of West Ga., Masters Degree in Administration from Jacksonville State University, Specialist Degree from Lincoln Memorial University in Administration. Coach Thomason coached the past 12 years at PCHS doing QB's. This is his 2nd year at Hiram High coaching DB's. Coach Thomason teaches Physical Education at Scoggins Middle School.

Married to Tori Jelks Thomason and have two kids, Baylor (5) and Madelyn (3).

Email: BThomason@paulding.k12.ga.us

Tommy Rogers
Wide Receivers

Coach Rogers, a native of Blairsville, Georgia, is starting his 25th year of coaching. This will be his 4th year as the receivers’ coach at Hiram High School. Tommy has also coached at McEachern High School for 10 years, and Pebblebrook High School for 11. He received his undergraduate degree in Physical Education from the Georgia State University and his masters at Jacksonville State University.

Coach Rogers teaches Physical Education at Hiram Elementary School and P.B. Ritch Elementary School. Tommy and his wife, Caren, have been married for 18 years and have two children, Alex, who is 15, and Grace, who is 11 years old.

Email: TRogers@paulding.k12.ga.us

Troy Stone
Secondary

Coach Stone is entering his 19th year of coaching and his 9th year at Hiram High School. He teaches math and coaches the dogs, strong safeties, and free safeties. Previous experience includes: 2 year letterman at Appling County Comprehensive High School, 3 year letterman at Presbyterian College, 5 years at Morrow High School (coaching running backs and outside linebackers), 3 years at Glynn Academy (coaching linebackers and secondary), 3 years at East Paulding High School (coaching linebackers and Defensive Coordinator), 7 previous years at Hiram High School (coaching linebackers and receivers).

Coach Stone is married to the former Leigh Williams of Molena, GA. They have two sons Levi (13), Jake (2) and one daughter, Kate (10).

Email: TStone@paulding.k12.ga.us

Kelley Etheridge
Certified Athletic Trainer

Coach Etheridge is entering her 5th year at Hiram High School as the athletic trainer. She is a native of Powder Springs, GA and a graduate of John McEachern High School. She attended Samford University, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and Physical Education. She received her Master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of Alabama, where she worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the men’s and women’s tennis teams. After Alabama, Coach Etheridge worked as an athletic trainer for a year at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. She spent two summers recently working with USA Basketball’s women’s junior national teams, traveling to international tournaments in both Argentina (U-18) and Serbia (World University Games). Coach Etheridge currently teaches Sports Medicine and Health at Hiram. She also created a student athletic training program at Hiram to prepare students for future careers in the field of Sports Medicine.

Email: KEtheridge@paulding.k12.ga.us

Jamie Vickrey
9th Grade Head Coach

Coach Vickrey is currently in his 8th year of coaching at Hiram High School and his 2nd year coaching 9th grade football. Coach Vickrey has been coaching various sports for a total of 15 years including head coaching positions in golf and cross country. Coach Vickrey received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, AL. His undergraduate degree is in mass communications and his master's degree is in education.

Coach Vickrey has been married to his wife Amy for 14 years. They have two children; Libby, who is 8, and Colling, who is 5.

Email: JVickrey@paulding.k12.ga.us

John Farmer
9th Grade Community Coach

Coach Farmer is entering his 6th season of coaching at Hiram. He is a native of Hiram, GA and a graduate of Hiram High School. He is currently enrolled at the University of West Georgia. He is planning on getting a degree in Computer Science and health and physical education.

Terrance Lindley
9th Grade Community Coach

Terrance Lindley is a 2009 graduate from Hiram High School. Terrance participated in football and track during the 4 years of high school and was a two year varsity starter. Coach Lindley also wrestled for one year on the varsity wrestling team. Coach Lindley’s coaching duties will to be an assistant coach on the 9th grade football program. Coach Lindley plans on becoming a head football coach one day.

Jordan Stanley
9th Grade Community Coach

Jordan Stanley is a 2009 graduate of Hiram High School. He played three years of varsity football for the Hornets. Coach Stanley is a native of Powder Springs, Georgia. This is Coach Stanley's first year as a community coach with the coaching staff for the 9th grade team.

Nicholas Brown
Manager