Grace Christian Academy is pleased to announce the hire of new Varsity Baseball Coach, Jonathan Byrd. Coach Byrd will join the GCA faculty and staff officially on Monday, December 3, 2018.
We're excited to welcome Coach Byrd and his wife, Chelsey, to the GCA community!
In a press conference held on Monday, November 26 in the Grace Christian Academy Coffey Field House, Athletic Director, Gene Baker, introduced Jonathan Byrd as the new Head Baseball Coach for the TSSAA Division II Class A program. Byrd arrives at Grace following three years of helping to resurrect programs first, as head coach at Giles county in Pulaski and, most recently, as assistant at Clinton. Prior to his appointment at Giles County, Byrd spent three years as an assistant on the Martin Methodist staff where the Redhawks complied a 92-56 record following a 31 win season in his senior playing season. Byrd’s playing career also included stops at Columbia State Community College and Hiwassee College.
When asked about the position at Grace, Byrd spoke for both himself and his wife. “Chelsey and I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible community like Grace,” and as far as getting started with the baseball program, “I can’t wait to start building relationships with my guys and making an impact on their lives.”
The Rams come off a 28-13, 2018 season that culminated in a state quarterfinal appearance. So where does the program go from here? The new coach had a definitive answer. “Knowing the baseball culture at Grace, I’m sure our returning players have redemption on their minds. The goal here will always be a state championship. With hard work and determination, I believe that’s a realistic goal for this spring.”
According to Director Baker, the four-month wait to identify the Ram’s next skipper has yielded positive results. “We couldn’t be happier with our choice for the school, the program, and, especially, our baseball student-athletes. Coach Byrd checks all the boxes. He’s been a head coach and has experienced on-field success as both a head and assistant coach. Additionally, his collegiate experience gives him a more insightful perspective than most. Best of all, he and Chelsey epitomize what being a member of the Grace Community is all about, strong in faith and driven to excel. Lead…Build…Equip!”
The Rams open the 2019 campaign in the Playing-For-A-Cure Classic in March and all signs point to a team that will be ready to complete in TSSAA Division II Class A, District 1, statistically, the toughest district in the state last year.