DALTON, Ga. - Northwest Georgia is mourning the loss of longtime high school football coach Bill Napier, who died Tuesday night after a nearly four-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Napier, 60, was the head coach at Murray County for 16 years, winning 94 games and three region championships with the Indians. His 1999 team won 10 games and reached the Class AAA state semifinals. He was also an assistant coach at Southeast Whitfield, Adairsville and Dalton, where he was offensive coordinator and later quarterbacks coach for five seasons.
His short time in Dalton left an indelible legacy, school athletic director Jeff McKinney said.
"Coach Napier was such a great inspiration to all who knew him, whether it was spiritual, football, work, family, et cetera," said McKinney, whose son Jordon played for the Catamounts and is currently at the University of Georgia. "You could always depend on being a better person after spending time with him.
"He will be missed by many."
Services for Napier are at noon Friday at First Baptist Church in Chatsworth.
Macon hosting again
The Macon Centreplex will host four classes of basketball state championship games and both the duals and traditional wrestling state championships this school year, the GHSA announced this week.
The Centreplex lost the basketball events last year after a controversy in 2016 centered around improper alignments of the posts supporting the goals and the overall rundown appearance of the facilities. However, a new management firm, Spectra, has assumed control and is supervising a renovation that will include a new basketball court and new lighting.
The GHSA also announced a parking fee will no longer be charged.
"We are very excited about the ongoing improvements that are being made to the Macon Centreplex," GHSA executive director Robin Hines said in a statement on the organization's website. "The enthusiasm level that Macon-Bibb County officials have shown in bringing back GHSA events has been phenomenal."
First up will be the state duals, set for Jan. 11-13, followed by the traditional tournament Feb. 8-10. The basketball finals are March 7-8, with the other four classes competing at Georgia Tech on March 9-10. The GHSA will assign the games based on the combined travel of the teams involved.