By Staff Reports

 

AMERICUS – The GISA Coaches Association recently held its annual summer banquet during the coaches’ clinics at St. Simons Island. This year’s banquet was a special event for one very special member of the Southland Academy family. Former Southland coach Loveard McMichael was inducted into the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) Coaches’ Hall of Fame.

McMichael, a graduate of Americus High School, played football, basketball and baseball at Americus High. As a junior, his basketball and baseball teams both won state championships. After graduating from high school, McMichael received a scholarship to play baseball at the University of South Carolina as a pitcher. McMichael was a standout pitcher for the Gamecocks and still holds two school records: fewest walks per nine innings in a season with an average of 1.03 in 1964 (nine walks in 78 1/3 innings pitched) and fewest walks per nine innings in a career from 1964-66. That’s an average of 1.55 (36 walks in 209 innings pitched). That is also an NCAA record.

After college, McMichael entered the coaching profession with stops at Americus High, Treutlen High, Lee County, Southland Academy and Schley County. In total, McMichael spent 39 years coaching.

While at Southland, McMichael’s teams won three state championships in football (1986, 1991 and 1992). His overall record as the head football coach at Southland was 106-48. He also coached state championship teams in baseball, winning back-to-back state titles for the Raiders in 1991 and 1992. He also won a state championship in baseball while coaching at Americus High in 1970. In addition to winning state championships in football and baseball at Southland, McMichael also led the Raiders to a state championship in golf in 1998.

Today, Coach McMichael enjoys his days of retirement, but can still be seen around the campus watching his grandkids play for the Raiders. Congratulations are in order for Loveard McMichael and his family for his well-deserved honor from the GISA.