Coach Gatz is in his fourth year as the head boys basketball coach at Newnan High School. Coach Gatz who has over 10 years of coaching experience led the Cougars to the Elite 8 of the playoffs last year. The Cougars under the leadership of Coach Gatz have won 36 out of their last 54 games... Before joining Newnan he was an assistant coach at Mountain View High School in Gwinnett County under head coach BJ Roy. Before joining the Bear staff coached for 5 years in Missouri including multiple 20-win seasons and a district title at Raymore-Peculiar High School in the Kansas City area, as well as 2 years as an assistant at Athens Christian School including an appearance in the state title game.
Coach Gatz played high school basketball at Fruitland High School in Idaho before going to William Jewell College (MO) to play basketball in college. Coach earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in social studies education from the University of Georgia.
Family: Trent is married to Courtney Gatzemeyer. She is an on-air meteorologist at WRBL Channel 3 in Columbus, GA. Courtney is from Wichita, KS and is a graduate of Oklahoma University.
Coaching Philosophy: "Basketball is an exciting and fast paced game built on small details that provide so many life lessons. I enjoy the consistency of the game and the mental and physical challenges it provides for our student-athletes. We love the opportunity to compete and to constantly challenge ourselves to learn, develop and improve. Our game day experience is like no other, but coaching provides me an opportunity to experience much more. This team provides a bond for life and learning opportunities to help shape our players. We focus on constant improvement through attention to detail and building relationships and teamwork that goes beyond th basketball court."
Why Newnan: "Newnan is an amazing community that provides great support and opportunities to our students and our program. We have talented students at Newnan with a toughness, resiliency and a level of high integrity that represents our area. I'm excited to help our student-athletes achieve the success they deserve on the court, classroom, community and beyond in their lives. We are excited to build on the tremendous culture and pride that is here at Newnan High School and create a successful long-term program that is a tight knit family for life."
COACH DEMARCUS WILKINS
Newnan High SCHOOL Varsity Assistant BASKETBALL COACH
I have a very small close knit family with 3 sisters, 6 nieces and 2 nephews. I am the only male of my mother's children and also the youngest. I have 3 beautiful children Zaelyn, Laila and Trinity.
I played for Newnan High from 1996 - 2000. In the 1999 and 2000 seasons I was elected to the All-Region team. The 2000 season we won the Regional Championship and also made it to the Elite 8 in the State Tournament. I was part of the 1000 Point Club while playing for the Cougars. We finished that year ranked 5th in the state. I then went to Florida A & M where I was a four-year starter. I was on the All-Rookie team as a freshman in 2000 and also was elected to the All-Tournament team in 2004. I was part of the 1000 Point Club at Florida A & M, as well. We won the MEAC Championship in 2004 which led us to the NCAA Tournament. That team was the first in school history to win an NCAA Tournament game winning the play-in game versus Lehigh University.
I believe that basketball and life are parallel. There are so many things that playing and coaching the game can teach you in life. Different values such as being a hard worker and being a good teammate can be learned. The game also teaches kids to hold themselves accountable for their actions just as in life. The game teaches you to have fun and love what you do even through the bad times when things aren't going your way. It brings out the competitive nature that will instill survival skills that we all need to be successful in life. But most of all it teaches kids that no matter win or lose, as long as you prepare yourself the right way then you will always be a winner.
Newnan is home. So it's only right that the hometown kid comes back to pass down all of the wonderful experiences and knowledge that I have learned from the game to the next generation. There would be nothing better than to have success as a player and now as a coach.
REGGIE POWELL
Newnan High School Junior Varsity BASKETBALL COACH
Coach Powell is entering his 20th year coaching basketball at Newnan High School. He has helped coach the basketball program to a Region Championship, a State Final Four appearance, as well as other State Playoff appearances. He began his coaching career at Arnall Middle School by coaching football with Coach Smith and basketball with Coach Spakes. He also presently coaches football at Evans Middle School where they won the Middle School Championship in 2016.
Before graduating from Newnan High School, Coach Powell played basketball and baseball. During his senior year, he helped lead the baseball team to a Region Championship, North Georgia Championship and State Runner Up. He attended Alabama State University after high school and played baseball. During his senior year, he helped guide the baseball team to a SWAC East Division Championship. He was named Best Defensive Infielder after his senior year.
Coach Powell is married to Veronica Powell. They have 2 children. Caitlin Powell in a junior at Texas State University majoring in Communications Design and Caleb is a senior at Fayette County High School.
Basketball gives kids an opportunity to compete, as well as skills to prepare for life. It allows kids to learn how to be a part of a team and work toward a common goal. I like to stress defense. I believe anyone can score, but everyone can play defense. You have to have will and determination to play good defense. Not everyone wants to play defense. I also believe that good defense helps to build trust and teamwork among your teammates.
Newnan is my home. I was given the opportunity to begin coaching basketball at Newnan High School by Coach Harold Goodman, who was the girls basketball coach when I was attending high school. I have learned so much from Coach Goodman and Coach Rod Ladd about the relationship with basketball and life. It is also good to see former athletes that I have coached to have a bond with Newnan athletes and give back to the community.
Newnan High School. 190 Lagrange St. Newnan, GA. 30263 Ph: 770-254-2880