Wildcat Coaching Staff

2001 Wildcat Coaching Staff

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Front row: Eric Habelt, Adam Collins, Head Coach Al Hughes, Steve Hughes, David Hughes.
Back row: Jimmy Fields, Craig Chatman, Larry Mortonson, Scott John, Paul Gonnella, Mike Steele.

Click on the the coach on the photo above, or scroll down to read the his bio.
	Coach Al Hughes Head Football Coach Athletic Director The 2001-2002 school year sees Al Hughes taking over as head football coach and athletic director. He succeeds C.W. Campbell, who coached the Cats for the past 12 years and resigned this spring to become transportation director for the Clayton County School System. Coach Hughes is a 24-year coaching veteran, having spent the past eight at Lovejoy. He graduated from Jonesboro High School and earned his BS in Physical Education from Jacksonville State College where he played football. He later received his masters in education administration. After graduating from college, Coach Hughes returned to his alma mater where he became head football coach for the Jonesboro Cardinals before moving to Lovejoy High in 1994. During his career at with the Wildcats he’s held a number of coaching positions, most recently offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. Coach Hughes has three children, Kristen, 11; Alison, 14; and Megan, 18, who graduated from Lovejoy High School in June and is a freshman at the University of Georgia.
	Coach Larry Mortonson Offensive Coordinator Coach Larry Mortonson is in his seventh year of coaching at Lovejoy High School, and his 16th as a teacher and coach. He graduated from Ware County High School in Waycross where he played football and baseball, and lifted weights. Coach Mortonson attended Valdosta State University where he earned his B.S. in health and physical education. Before coming to Lovejoy, he coached at a number of schools including Mundy’s Mill Jr. High, Charlton County High, Jonesboro High and Jackson High Schools. His wife Niki is a social worker.
	Coach Scott John Defensive Coordinator In addition to his football coaching duties, Coach Scott John is LHS head baseball coach, and lead the Wildcat baseball team to the state "Final Four" in 1999. He’s been coaching for the past 14 years, of which the last eight have been at Lovejoy. Coach John earned his BSED from the University of Missouri where he played football and baseball. He earned his masters in education from the University of Central Michigan. Among his many professional honors, he was named Clayton County and South Metro Baseball Coach of the year in 1997 and 2000. He and his wife Kathy is a hospital administrator at Piedmont Hospital. They have two children, Ryan, age six, and three-year-old Holly.
	Coach Eric Habelt Receivers Coach Coach Habelt is in his fourth year of coaching at LHS, and his eighth year coaching overall. In addition to coaching the the receivers he is also assistant basketball coach and a mathematics teacher at Lovejoy High. He earned his BSBA degree at Valapariso University where he was a kicker and quarterback. Coach Habelt and his wife Mindy have two children, Jordan, age four, and one-year-old Abygail.
	Coach David Hughes Defensive Line Coach Coach David Hughes coaches the defensive line for the Wildcats and is head coach for the boys and girls swimming teams. A ten-year veteran of the coaching ranks, he coached at Gayesville High, Lovejoy Middle and Stockbridge High Schools before coming to Lovejoy five years ago. A graduate of Jonesboro High School, Coach Hughes earned his degree in secondary mathematics education at Jacksonville State University and his masters in education from Central Michigan University. He and his wife, Amanda, have one child, three-year-old Nicholas.
	Coach Craig Chatman Quarterbacks Coach The 2001 season marks Coach Chatman’s second year with coaching the Wildcats, Coach Chatman is an alumnus of Lovejoy High School where he was the Wildcats quarterback for all four of his years here. While at Lovejoy, Coach Chatman was a four-year letterman in football and baseball, and played basketball. He earned his bachelors degree in history and education. graduated from LaGrange College where he also played baseball. Coach Chatman is a newlywed. He and his wife Amy married in June.
	Coach Paul Gonnella Defensive Backs Coach Coach Paul Gonnella comes to Lovejoy High School from Massachusetts where he attended Springfield (Mass) College and Salem State College earning his B.A. in Science and P.E. Coach Gonnella played football at Wakefield High School where he made the Massachusetts All-State team in 1987. In college he was named All-New England free safety and last year was elected to the Wakefield High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition to his football duties, Coach Gonnella coaches baseball. He has two sons, Luke and Paul.
	Coach Adam Collins Offensive Line Coach Coach Adam Collins is in his first full year teaching and coaching at Lovejoy High School. He’s a 1992 graduate of Lovejoy where he played football. He received his degree in history from Georgia State University and teaches geography and sociology. Coach Collins also coaches wrestling.
	Coach Damon Blythe Receivers Coach Coach Damon Blythe enters his fourth year of coaching and his first at Lovejoy High School. He comes from Huffman HIgh School in Birmingham, Ala. Coach Damon earned his degree in English from Tuskeegee University where he played wide. receiver for the Tigers. In addition to coaching football, Coach Blythe teaches English. He and his wife Aisha have two children, five-year-old Kibiru and one-year-old Kierah.
	Coach Mike Steele Defensive Line Coach Coach Steele begins his first year teaching and coaching at Lovejoy High School. He is a 1994 graduate of Riverdale High School where he played baseball. Coach Steele attended Valdosta State University where he earned Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in economics and management. In addition to his football duties, Coach Steele teaches marketing.
	Coach Jimmy Fields Quarterbacks Coach Coach Fields comes to Lovejoy from Holt High School in Alabama where he coached football and middle school basketball. He is a 1993 graduate of Akron (Ala.) High School and earned his B.A. in physical education from Stillman College. His fiancé is also a teacher in the Clayton County School System. They plan to marry in June, 2002.

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