Jordan Hice is the Gilmer High Bobcats all-time basketball wins leader, and he is no longer the head coach of the program.
Hice turned in his letter of resignation last Wednesday, and cited spending more time with his young family as the reason.
“Once the little kids camp was completed and the summer was pretty much wrapped up, that’s when I decided to resign,” said Hice, who was the Bobcats’ head coach for 14 seasons.
Hice said he was not asked or forced to resign. He will remain on staff as a physical education teacher and tennis assistant.
“In 14 years of doing this, I’ve probably put the program ahead of a lot of things that should probably take priority toward family,” he said. “Always putting the program first, I think it was just time to relieve myself of the stress, pressure and commitment. It’s time for me to put that time toward other things in my life.
“These thoughts have come off and on as a season ends. It wasn’t a quick decision. It’s kind of been in the back of my head that in the next few years I would eventually do it. My son is 2 years old and is about to be 3. It’s been on my mind about when it would be a good time for my family to spend more time with them.”
Hice’s teams were 190-174 under his tutelage, and they reached the state tournament six times. When the Bobcats defeated archrival Pickens (74-71) for the region championship in 2024, it became the first title in the program’s history. Gilmer went on to win its first-round game versus Lakeview Fort-Oglethorpe (70-44), another program first. GHS finished as region runners-up in 2014 and 2023.
“Every year had something that stood out that you remember. I know everyone talks about the winning seasons, but those seasons that weren’t so good were probably some of my best coaching seasons. Of course winning a region championship was great, but I feel like there’s always something each season,” Hice said.
“The coaches I’ve worked with, Al Charles, Brad Jenkins, Jamie Pierce, Wade Taylor, Bobby Teague and Drew Owens ... I have all those memories with those coaches. Ryan Lowery texted me the other day and said, ‘Hey man, I heard (about the resignation), and I just wanted to say I appreciate everything you’ve done.’ He was the first senior I ever coached. No matter the year, there was always something that was great, positive and fun about it no matter if you won or lost.”
Hice’s first season was 2011-12, and GHS finished 13-14. Gilmer then strung together back-to-back state playoff berths. The Cats’ went 24-5 in 2012-13 to set the program’s standard for wins. GHS posted a 22-5 mark the following year.
While Gilmer ended its seasons with a 17-9 record in 2018-19, the Cats missed the playoffs. GHS returned to state in 2021-22 and was 19-11 on the season, and it marked the first of four straight postseason appearances.
Gilmer secured respective records of 19-10 and 20-8 over the next two seasons. The Cats were back at state in Hice’s final season when they earned an at-large bid to the tournament.
In 2023-24, Hice became the program’s all-time wins leader when he surpassed dad Gene, who coached the Bobcats from 1974-1987 and compiled a 166-156 record.
The annual tip-off tournament was held in 13 of Hice’s seasons, and the event pitted the Bobcats against rivals Pickens and Fannin County. Gilmer won the tournament nine times and finished as runners-up twice.
“It’s bittersweet. There are great things about it,” Hice said of coaching at his alma mater. “You have family and friends and people who are proud of you and help you out along the way. So you already have those ties to the community that a lot of other coaches probably don’t have. That has been a positive but has also been a hardship with family and friends who know you. It’s kind of a double-edged sword.
“I’ve enjoyed it. This is not something that I’ve been doing for myself really. It’s more or less been about doing it for the community I grew up in. I’ve been trying to establish different outlets of basketball whether it’s park and rec and going down to talk to coaches, helping out with practices or running the little kids camp. I had a big involvement with Jobie Ralston starting that Young Gunz program. If that wasn’t me, I don’t know if that would have gone on because they wouldn’t know me so well, and I was able to help out.”
County athletic director Paul Standard said the job was posted last Wednesday, and the school has been contacted by five candidates as of Monday afternoon.
“Jordan has done a great job obviously,” said Standard. “He’s a native of Gilmer County and was a great player here, the winningest coach in boys basketball, won the only region championship and has done some great things for our basketball program. We’re certainly sorry to see him go. He will remain as an employee of the school system. We’re grateful for all his contributions to the boys program.
“The job will stay open until it’s filled. The timing isn’t great, but we have some good candidates who have applied or expressed interest in the job. We’ll keep the job open until we’ve found the right person.”