HEAD COACH
Jay Sneddon

Coach Sneddon enters his 8th season as the Spartans Head Coach. He has compiled a 145 – 62 record at South and twenty-five Spartans have gone on to play collegiately during his tenure. Prior to coming to South, Coach Sneddon has served as the head coach at Mt. Paran, Mt. Zion, and Villa Rica. Sixteen of Coach Sneddon’s former players have become high school coaches, including six that have become head coaches, and fourteen of Coach Sneddon’s former assistants’ have become head coaches.

Coach Sneddon is a graduate of the University of West Georgia and has a master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration. Coach Sneddon has twice been awarded the GHSA All-Region coach of the year. Coach Sneddon has 2 daughters: Jordan and Alana.

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ASSISTANT COACH
Brian Welak

Coach Welak is a graduate of Central Dauphin East High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He received his degree from Gannon University in Biology where he played 4 years of collegiate baseball. Coach Welak will be entering his 6th year at South where he serves as our strength and conditioning coach, outfield coach, and head Junior Varsity coach. Coach Welak’s JV team won the West Georgia JV League championship in 2023. Coach Welak also serves as South’s head fishing coach, and holds a state record in Pennsylvania for the largest Northern Pike ever caught on Lake Wallenpaupack. He lives with his wife Tracy, son Kellan, and his dog Moonshine. ​

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ASSISTANT COACH
Jason Chatham

Coach Chatham is a graduate of McEachern High School. He will be entering his 8th season as an Assistant Coach for the Spartans. Coach Chatham serves as an infield coach and hitting instructor for the Spartan program.  Prior to coming to South, Coach Chatham served as a head travel ball coach for 10 years. In his spare time, he test drives Corvettes in Bowling Green Kentucky at the Corvette Museum. He lives with his wife Staci, and 3 kids: Tyler, Harry, and Trystan. 
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ASSISTANT COACH
Brian Meadows

Coach Meadows is a graduate of McEachern High School, and Georgia Southern University with a degree in Sports Management. Brian’s professional playing career was sidetracked when he was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve as a Trench Runner during World War I. He later caught a perfect game from Babe Ruth and hit a grand slam off Nolan Ryan. Following a brief stint in the Korean War, he resumed his career where he caught another perfect game from Bob Gibson. He stands today as the only professional baseball player to catch two perfect games.

Coach Meadows will be entering his 8th season as an Assistant Coach for the Spartans. He serves as an assistant pitching coach, and administrative assistant. Prior to coming to South, he coached travel ball for 10 years. He lives with his wife Jill, and two kids: Ethan and Allie.

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ASSISTANT COACH
Scooter Houston

Coach Houston is entering his 12th year coaching at the High School level. He is entering his 4th year at South, having previously coached for 8 years at Crisp County High School as their outfield coach, co-hitting instructor, and Strength & Conditioning coach. He is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University, having earned a B.S. in Health and Physical education, and later earned an M.Ed. in Health and Physical Education from Valdosta State. Coach Houston serves as the Associate Head Coach, infield instructor, and hitting coach for the Spartans. He lives with his wife Alisa and their two daughters, Brynlee and Adalee, and son Huxley.
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ASSISTANT COACH
Adam Graham

Coach Graham is beginning his 4th year at South Paulding High School and is currently the Head Softball Coach and Assistant Baseball Coach. While at South Paulding both softball and baseball teams have made the playoffs every year. Previously, he was the Head Baseball and Softball coach at Chapel Hill High School. Under his 3-year tenure, the Softball team won a region championship, region runner-up, and made the playoffs every year. Coach Graham lead the Panthers softball team to 2 Sweet 16 appearances in 3 seasons. In 2018, he was named GACA Region 5 AAAA Coach of the Year. As the Head Coach of the Panthers Baseball team, he led the way to the first playoff appearance in 7 years. Coach Graham has made coaching stops at South Central Middle (2008-2012), Augusta State University (2012-2013), Haralson County High (2013-2014), Villa Rica High (2014-2016), and Chapel Hill High (2016-2021). Coach Graham is a graduate of Douglas County High School and played collegiate baseball at ABAC. He graduated from the University of West Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education and completed his master’s degree in human performance at Jacksonville State University. Currently, Coach Graham is pursuing his Tier 1 certification in Education Leadership at the University of West Georgia. Coach Graham and his wife, Melissa, have 3 children: Joanna (13), Clayton (10), and Wade (8). 

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ASSISTANT COACH
Cody Sauls

Coach Sauls was born and raised in Villa Rica, Ga. and graduated from Villa Rica High School with the class of 2010. Coach Sauls was a 4-year varsity letterman in Baseball and Football, and a 2-year varsity letterman in Wrestling. Coach Sauls played baseball at Mars Hill College in western North Carolina and completed his bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of West Georgia. Coach Sauls is entering his 3rd year at South. Coach Sauls serves as the small ball coordinator for the Spartan Program. Cody is a former professional bull rider and has the ability to hypnotize roosters - where he made an appearance on America’s Got Talent. Cody lives with his wife Chelsey and dog Murphy. 

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JR. SPARTAN COORDINATOR
Scott Brown 

Coach Brown is a graduate of Thornton Fractional South H.S. in Lansing, Illinois, and received electrical training in LaPorte, Indiana. Coach Brown served as the president of the South Paulding Diamond Club and later joined the Spartan coaching staff. Coach Brown will be entering his 5th year with the Spartan program where he serves as the head 8th grade coach, and Jr. Spartan Coordinator. He will also serve as a 9th grade assistant. Coach Brown lives with his wife Shannon.

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JR. SPARTAN COACH
Joseph Brumbelow

Coach Brumbelow is entering his 3rd year as a coach with South Paulding. Coach Brumbelow will serve as the head freshman coach for the Spartan Program. He also serves as the head wrestling coach at South. He is a graduate from Kennesaw State University, an educator with PCSD and currently lives in Paulding County with his wife Dae and their two children Joeby and Brinley. Joseph participates in golf cart racing in his spare time. He recently won an award at Mirror Lake Raceway in his first event.

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JR. SPARTAN COACH
Luke Lamar

Coach Lamar is a graduate of South Paulding High School. He played all 4 years at South and continued his collegiate career at Lawson State in Alabama. Coach Lamar is entering his 3rd year coaching at South Paulding. Coach Lamar serves as a hitting instructor & outfield coach for the Junior Spartan Program. Luke is an avid reader and plays golf in his spare time. He is ranked in the top 50 for left-handed golfers in Temple, Ga. and has recently opened his own yoga studio.

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JR. SPARTAN COACH
Russ Lockridge

Coach Lockridge is a graduate of South Paulding High School. Following his 4-year baseball career at South, he continued his education at Kennesaw State University, earning a degree in communication. He is in his 3rd year coaching in the Spartan program. Coach Lockridge serves as the pitching coach for the Junior Spartan Program. In addition to coaching at South, Coach Lockridge also coaches’ football for the Mt. Paran Christian School feeder program.  Russ lives with his wife Lacey and dog Bentley. Russ is famously known for his role in the hit Netflix series The Outer Banks. He is also ranked in the top 10 in NCAA Football - in his office, of 12 employees.

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