Newnan High School Baseball
Newnan High School baseball has come a long way over the past thirty years. In 1970, Newnan High School had only a varsity team. That team had no Freshmen and few Sophomores. Today the NHS baseball program fields over 50 players on varsity, junior varsity and 9th grade teams.
Memorable teams from the past include the 1987 Cougar team, coached by Joe Jordan. The ’87 Cougars ended the regular season with a perfect 24-0 record. They went on to finish 27-2 as the 6AAAA region runner-up.
Coach Joe Pope continued that successful leadership with the 1988 Cougars winning the North Georgia AAAA championship. That team had an impressive 27-8 regular season record. The 1989 team was not to be outdone, even though there was a change in leadership. Coach Joey Sims took the helm, and guided the ‘89 Cougars to the Region 4AAAA championship. The leadership of NHS baseball changed again in 1991, but the desire to produce a winning team did not change. Coach Joe Pope became the head coach, and led the ’91 Cougars to become the State AAAA champs.
Coach Pope had been involved in the Cougar baseball program since 1984, and led the Cougars as head coach from 1991 until 1994. Coach Pope’s influence on NHS baseball is still evident today. He set the example of winning not just on the field, but winning in life. To honor Coach Pope, the NHS baseball field was dedicated in his memory in 1995.
Coach Chris Johnson took the team in 1995 and 1996. Coach Johnson fielded excellent Cougar teams during his tenure, leading the NHS team in winning seasons.
In 1997, Coach Kenny Morris was selected to become the Top Cat in NHS baseball. Coach Morris wasted no time in setting the pace for Cougar baseball. During his first year, Coach Morris led the Cougars to the Region 4AAAA championship. They also won the 4AAAA championship in 1999, 2004, 2007, and 2010 as well as runner-up finishes in 1998 and 2000. The 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, and 2010 teams all finished in the top eight in the state in AAAA. Newnan's 2011 team enjoyed a trip to the Final 4, defeating power house Brookwood High School in the quaterfinials.
Coach Morris has continued to field winning teams in his 17 years at NHS. The NHS baseball program is recognized as one of the best programs in the state. Coach Morris' philosophy is to develop young players through the 9th grade and junior varsity programs, to become state championship contenders on the varsity team.
New head coach Marc Gilmore is no stranger to the Cougar program. He has served as an assistant to Kenny Morris for 9 years. Coach Gilmore brings a vibe of energy to the program, as he looks to continue the sucess that the program has had during his tenure as head coach.
The NHS baseball program has come a long way in the past thirty years. There have been a number of winning teams, and a few years where the win column came up a little short. Regardless of the year or team, if you ask some of the "Old Timers" what their memorable moments are, they probably won’t mention their teams' won/lost records. More than likely they will remember something about the people on the team, or the long bus ride to an away game, or some prank played by the team trickster.
All of us enjoy watching a winning team, and the game should be played to win, but NHS baseball is more than just winning baseball games. It is part of the NHS experience that prepares our children for the future. Baseball teaches our children discipline, teamwork and responsibility. These are the same qualities that are required to succeed in life.
Let’s continue to encourage our NHS baseball program, and give our support to Coach Gilmore and his staff as they work to build a winning team both on and off the field.
Newnan High School Baseball Coaches
1970 -- 1971 -- C. R. Thompson
1972 -- Vernon Kidd
1973 -- C. R. Thompson
1980 -- Searcy Jackson
1983 -- Joe Hughes
1984 -- Joe "Jabo" Jordan
1988 -- Joe Pope (1988 North Georgia champion)
1989 -- 1990 -- Joey Sims (1989 4AAAA champion)
1991 -- 1994 -- Joe Pope (1991 State AAAA champion)
1995 --1996 -- Chris Johnson
1997 -- 2013 -- Kenny Morris (1997, 1999- 4AAAA champion; 2004, and 2007 4AAAAA Champs, 2011 4AAAAA Champs)
2014--Present - Marc Gilmore
