2025-26 GILMER BOBCAT FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Paul Standard-Head Football Coach | Gilmer County Athletic Director
​Coach Standard will begin his fifth year at Gilmer County High School, and his 41st year overall in education and coaching. Coach Standard has been a Head Football Coach for 24 years and has a 194–95 overall record.
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At St. Pius X, in 20 years, Coach Standard compiled a record of 174–72, surpassing his coach and mentor the legendary Coach George B. Maloof, as the winningest coach in St. Pius X history. During his time at St. Pius X Coach Standard’s teams won 8 region championships, went to the playoffs 18 seasons, had 12 top ten rankings, playoff record of 29–18, including two trips to the State Championship Game.
At Gilmer County Standard’s record is 20–23. The 2023 and 2024 Bobcats returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and won the first playoff game in 2023 since 2013.
Coach Standard’s career started in 1985 at Loganville, 1986–90 Meadowcreek and ten years at Dacula (1991–2000 Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Backs). At Dacula, the teams were the Region Champions in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1999 (co-champs) and in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1999, they were State Quarter Finalists.
At St. Pius X Coach Standard was named Region Coach of the Year in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020. Dekalb County Coaches Association Coach of the Year 2006 and 2014. He was named Head Coach of the North Team in the GACA All-Star Game 2014.
A 1984 graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and served in the United States Army Reserve from 1984–1992.
He is married to the former Cindy Renee Harper for 39 years. Cindy has her doctorate in occupational therapy and works for Gilmer County Schools. They have four children: Paul Standard III, Elizabeth Standard Reynolds, Mary Katherine Standard Combs, and Margaret May Standard.
Paul and Cindy are proud grandparents of three handsome grandsons: Benjamin Fiske Reynolds, Miller DuFour Reynolds and Paul Reilly Standard and two beautiful granddaughters: Mary Harper Combs and Neala Christine Standard.
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Coach Standard has spoken on Option/Wing-T Football for many years, to include the Glazier Clinics (Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville), National Wing-T Clinic in Pittsburgh, and the Southeastern Wing-T Clinic.
Jeff Nelson-Defensive Coordinator | Head Strength Training Coordinator
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This is Coach Nelson’s 5th year at Gilmer High School. Prior to coming to Gilmer, he was at Pickens High School for seven years, with his most recent position being the head football coach. He also held the previous positions of defensive coordinator and head strength and conditioning coach.
He has worked at Creekview High School for eight years where he served as defensive coordinator. His other coaching experience includes five years at Sequoyah High where he coached Defensive Line and Defensive Backs.
He is originally from Canton, where he attended Cherokee High School. Coach Nelson is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and has a master’s degree in health & P.E. from the University of Alabama.
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Coach Nelson is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA. He teaches Weight Training.
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Coach Nelson is married to Leigh and they have three daughters: Anna (husband Brady), Ashley, and Amanda.
P.G. Standard – Offensive Coordinator Running Backs
Coach Standard enters his 5th year at Gilmer High where he will be coaching the running backs. Prior to coming to Gilmer, Coach Standard taught and coached four years at his alma mater, St. Pius X Catholic High School, in the same capacity.
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Coach Standard started his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at The Citadel in Charleston, SC for four years. Within that four year period, Coach Standard also earned a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from The Citadel.
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He attended LaGrange College for his undergraduate studies where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History. While attending LaGrange, Coach Standard also was a part of the football program as a defensive back.
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Coach Standard is from Hog Mountain, GA, and he is married to the former Caitlin Christine Shepherd of Dacula, GA. Caitlin is an ESOL teacher at Ellijay Elementary. They have two children, Paul Reilly and Neala.
Drew Gaddy- Offensive Line
Drew Gaddy and his family are excited for another season of football at Gilmer High School. Coach Gaddy is entering his 13th year of coaching and teaching and his 5th year at Gilmer High School. He will be coaching the Offensive Line and Tight Ends.
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Coach Gaddy teaches Credit Recovery and is the Director of Wrestling for Gilmer County Schools.
Previously, Coach Gaddy spent 7 years at East Jackson where he coached Offensive Line, Defensive Line and was the Head Wrestling Coach.
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Coach Gaddy started his coaching career at Blackville-Hilda High School in South Carolina where he coached Offensive Line and was the Head Soccer Coach.
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Coach Gaddy attended the University of West Georgia where he majored in Health and Physical Education and played 4 years of football for the Wolves (2009–2012). He has also earned his Master from the University of North Georgia and his Specialist from Valdosta State.
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Coach Gaddy is married to Haley Gaddy. Haley works as the school counselor at Ellijay Elementary School. Drew and Haley have a son, SJ (3) and a daughter, Brice (1).
Go Bobcats!
Ashley DeWitt - Offensive Line Coach
Coach Ashley DeWitt begins his 34th year overall, 5th year at Gilmer County High School, as an offensive line coach. Ashley, a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Health and Physical Education, received a master’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Georgia Southwestern, and an education specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University.
Ashley began his coaching career in 1992 at Hawkinsville High School where he spent three years coaching the offensive line. While at Hawkinsville he developed the school’s wrestling program.
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In 1995 DeWitt moved to Macon County High School where he coached offensive line and was the head wrestling coach. In 1996 he helped coach Macon County to the State Football Championship. In 1998 he moved to Central-Macon High School where he coached the offensive line, helped coordinate the offense and was head wrestling coach.
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In 2002 DeWitt moved to Carrollton High School where he coached football, state finalist in 2010 and 2013, Track, State Champions 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012. In 2015 he started the Girls’ Lacrosse program where he took them to their 1st playoff appearance in 2017.
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In 2018 Coach DeWitt moved to Cass High School where he coached the offensive line, helped coordinate the offense, and was the head middle school wrestling coach. Coach DeWitt is married to the former Suzanne Goolsby of Suwanee, Georgia and they have two children, Bethany and Brynn. Bethany and her husband Garret have a son and 2 daughters: Rennick (5), Adeline (3), Anna Chastain (10m).
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Brynn and her husband Samuel have a daughter Hattie (7m).
Jeff Thurman - Receivers
Coach Thurman is entering into his 21st season coaching football, and has 24 years of total coaching experience in both football and baseball. He began his teaching and coaching career at Bay Springs Middle School in Villa Rica, GA.
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His last 20 seasons he has found himself on the sidelines coaching the Bobcats on Friday nights. During coach Thurman’s career he has coached the defensive backs, running backs, defensive ends, quarterbacks, and he is currently coaching the receivers going into the 2025 season.
Coach Thurman is also the head baseball coach for the Bobcats and has been for a total of 17 seasons.
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Coach Thurman is a 1996 graduate of Gilmer High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball all 4 years. He attended the University of West Georgia and graduated with a B.A. in Social Studies in 2001.
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Coach Thurman has also received his M.A. in Secondary Education and E.D.S in Teaching and Learning from Piedmont College.
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Coach Thurman is married to the former Erin Leigh Henson of Ellijay, GA. Erin has been a school teacher in the Gilmer County School System for 18 years, and is currently teaching at Ellijay Elementary School.
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They have 5 children: Lucy (22), Lily (19), Payden (11), Payleigh (11), and Scotlin (7).
Eddie Marietta – Special Teams Coordinator Safeties
​Coach Eddie Marietta is in his fifth year at Gilmer High School. He coaches defensive backs and teaches a variety of Social Studies classes. He has twenty plus years of coaching experience.
He is a graduate of Kennesaw State University and played college football at Savannah State University. He also has a Master’s Degree from Valdosta State University.
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His wife, Sarah Marietta, is also a teacher at Gilmer High School. His two sons, Edward and Michael, are students in the school system.
Steve Plemons - Inside Linebackers​
Coach Steve Plemons is originally from Sweetwater, Tennessee. He played college football at Carson Newman University, and has been in the teaching and coaching profession for 17 years. Of those 17 years, he has been a defensive coordinator for 8 years, a co-Offensive coordinator for one year.
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Coach Plemons has coached defensive backs, linebackers, defensive line, wide receivers, running backs.
He has taught and coached in Gwinnett County, Hall County, Gordon County, Murray County, Pickens County and has spent some time coaching and teaching in Tennessee.
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He is married to his wife Jennifer and has four children: Alex (Georgia Southern), Keylon (Carson Newman University), Madalynn (Valdosta State), and Ayden (Roane State).
Avery Bertolini | Defensive Backs | Baseball
​Coach Avery Bertolini is entering his second year at Gilmer High School. He is coaching cornerbacks and is teaching special education. He is entering his 4th year coaching football and just finished his 3rd coaching baseball.
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He graduated from Gilmer High School in 2019. He attended the University of North Georgia where he majored in Health and Physical Education and is continuing his education with a master’s program through Georgia Southern.
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Coach Bertolini is married to Lexi Bertolini. She is currently employed with GA Hope and is working on her master’s program through Georgia State.
Matt Williams – Assistant Coach | Defensive Tackles
Coach Williams enters his 15th year coaching and his first at Gilmer High School, where he will be coaching the defensive tackles.
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Prior to coming to Gilmer, Coach Williams served three seasons as the linebacker coach and head wrestling coach at River Ridge High in Cherokee County. Coach Williams started his coaching career at Milton High School, where he coached the defensive line and was the JV head coach for 6 years.
Coach Williams also coached previously at Gordon Central, Temple and Campbell High Schools where he served roles as defensive and special teams coordinator.
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Coach Williams is from Bradenton, Florida where he attended Manatee High School.
Coach Williams is married to the former Kimberly Swett of Silver Creek, Georgia. They have two children, Mason James (11) and Evan Matthew (8).
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Mark Adams - Assistant Coach | Defensive Ends
Coach Adams is returning to Gilmer High after 3 years away from the program. He is in his 35th year as an educator and coach. Coach Adams will primarily coach defensive ends.
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Coach Adams obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Georgia Southern College in 1990.
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He is married to Elizabeth Caraker Adams of Doraville, Georgia. They have six grown children.