NewsAthleticsUpper SchoolStudent LifeLacrosse
Hight named head boys’ lacrosse coach
Apr 14, 2008 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington is pleased to announce that Gordon Hight (’94) has been named head varsity lacrosse coach for the 2008-09 school year. He will also serve as one of three deans of students in the Student Life Office and Upper School history teacher. Hight replaces Tim Foote, who has accepted a teaching and coaching position at McCallie School.
“I have no doubt that Gordon will work very hard to continue the success of Darlington’s lacrosse program,” Foote said. “He is a competent coach who really understands the game. He prepares well, stresses fundamental development and works consistently with the young players to develop their skills and make them stronger lacrosse players.”
Hight is no stranger to Darlington or lacrosse. He taught history, government and economics at the Upper School from 2002-2005, in addition to serving terms as director of student activities and director of summer programs. He also spent five years as assistant coach of the boys’ lacrosse team, helping lead them to a state championship title in 1999, state semi-finals in 2003 and state quarterfinals in 2004. He has coached the sport for a total of 10 years.
“I was a freshman in 1990-91 when Darlington started the lacrosse team, and so I was deeply honored when Tim Foote called to ask me to take over the program this fall,” Hight said. “I coached for Tim for five years, and the program has improved in many ways under his guidance. I’m most enthusiastic about returning to an environment that I know well and leading a team about which I’m exceedingly passionate.
“With more than 50 schools playing lacrosse in Georgia currently, there has been tremendous growth in the sport, though Darlington’s program is the oldest. For a long time because of that, Darlington has been the team everyone wanted to beat,” he continued. “Lacrosse, in Georgia, has no classifications to separate schools based on enrollment, so the challenges of playing AAAA, and AAAAA schools are significant. I look forward to coaching the athletic and intelligent students that I know Darlington produces and competing with them to maintain Darlington’s place as one of the premiere teams in the state.”
Hight returns to Darlington after spending three years at Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio, where he was assistant to the dean of students, chairman of the history department, and head coach of two varsity teams (boys’ lacrosse and girls’ golf). He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Georgia.
“At Wellington I inherited a team that went 2-15 the year before I arrived, and the program had not won a playoff game in three years. We’ve been fortunate to advance in the playoffs each year in my time at Wellington, and my goals are to continue that at Darlington,” Hight said. “Great teams are comprised of players who have intrinsic motivation, who don’t allow themselves to be satisfied easily. My goal is for that mindset to flourish at Darlington … I can’t wait to get started.”
“I have no doubt that Gordon will work very hard to continue the success of Darlington’s lacrosse program,” Foote said. “He is a competent coach who really understands the game. He prepares well, stresses fundamental development and works consistently with the young players to develop their skills and make them stronger lacrosse players.”
Hight is no stranger to Darlington or lacrosse. He taught history, government and economics at the Upper School from 2002-2005, in addition to serving terms as director of student activities and director of summer programs. He also spent five years as assistant coach of the boys’ lacrosse team, helping lead them to a state championship title in 1999, state semi-finals in 2003 and state quarterfinals in 2004. He has coached the sport for a total of 10 years.
“I was a freshman in 1990-91 when Darlington started the lacrosse team, and so I was deeply honored when Tim Foote called to ask me to take over the program this fall,” Hight said. “I coached for Tim for five years, and the program has improved in many ways under his guidance. I’m most enthusiastic about returning to an environment that I know well and leading a team about which I’m exceedingly passionate.
“With more than 50 schools playing lacrosse in Georgia currently, there has been tremendous growth in the sport, though Darlington’s program is the oldest. For a long time because of that, Darlington has been the team everyone wanted to beat,” he continued. “Lacrosse, in Georgia, has no classifications to separate schools based on enrollment, so the challenges of playing AAAA, and AAAAA schools are significant. I look forward to coaching the athletic and intelligent students that I know Darlington produces and competing with them to maintain Darlington’s place as one of the premiere teams in the state.”
Hight returns to Darlington after spending three years at Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio, where he was assistant to the dean of students, chairman of the history department, and head coach of two varsity teams (boys’ lacrosse and girls’ golf). He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Georgia.
“At Wellington I inherited a team that went 2-15 the year before I arrived, and the program had not won a playoff game in three years. We’ve been fortunate to advance in the playoffs each year in my time at Wellington, and my goals are to continue that at Darlington,” Hight said. “Great teams are comprised of players who have intrinsic motivation, who don’t allow themselves to be satisfied easily. My goal is for that mindset to flourish at Darlington … I can’t wait to get started.”
