Personality Profile
(Editor’s note: This is another in an annual series of personality profiles written by students in Jodi Williams’ English 1101 class at the University of North Georgia Blue Ridge campus. Each profile is a first hand account of a local person who has made an impact on the author).
By Avi Ethington
Special to The News Observer
The community is still talking about the huge high school girls’ varsity basketball win back in March, reminiscing on the excitement of the game, and celebrating the accomplishments of the athletes. Meanwhile, Coach Ryan Chastain and the Lady Rebels are back in the gym, working hard, striving to make history by going back-to-back as state champions.
Coach Chastain began his coaching journey when he was a 19-year-old student at the University of North Georgia (UNG). He was a volunteer coach at Lumpkin County High School for the boys’ basketball JV team for two years before he was hired onto the coaching staff for the women’s team at UNG. After two years coaching alongside Coach Buffie Burson, Chastain then moved over to the men’s program and worked with them for five years.
“After taking a short break from coaching, I realized that coaching was what I loved and made my way back into that line of work,” Chastain said smiling.
He was then hired to be the junior varsity boys coach in Pickens County for two years before returning to Fannin County. This year he is going on his seventh season with the Lady Rebels.
After a successful season last year, going 29-2 overall, 16-0 in region, region champions, and state champions, fans are excited for what is in store for this season.“Everyone has been asking me since May, ‘How do you follow up a state championship especially with the majority of your team returning?’” said Coach Chastain. “Our team has four returning starters this year including Reese Lewis, Avi Ethington, Maggie Ledford, and Izzie Jabeley and in a way, the seniors set the tone for the team. I am excited with the energy that the seniors this year have already brought to the court.”
It is easy to tell that the three seniors this year are extremely motivated and not satisfied with what they accomplished last season. “They are hungry to go win it again,” he said, “the defensive intensity is higher and that it is what makes the team special. I’m confident going into this season, but we will have to see how it goes.”
A lot of teams have a difficult time balancing celebration of the past with focusing on the future, but Coach Chastain feels that that has not been an issue with his team. There was a lot of celebration in the spring and there still is, but Chastain stated that inside the program they are very focused. “Even though we are proud of the accomplishments of last season,” he said smiling, “there is another job out in front of us to go get done.”
One of the main reasons for the Lady Rebels’ success is the culture of “work” within the program that is not just a standard but an expectation. These athletes work hard in the off-season which sets the bar for regular season. Not only does Coach Chastain emphasize a culture of hard work and respect, but also a family culture. “I tell my team all the time that I know not everyone is going to be the best of friends all the time and you don’t have to love each other but you have to respect each other.”
With the roster slightly changing this year, Coach Chastain is comforted in the fact that he knows what to expect from his returning starters. Graduate Emma Buchanan’s starting position as a four is a role that will be vacated as Albany Cole and Avi Ethington step more into that position. As far as players coming off the bench, Chastain stated, “The bench is young but has had a really good off season.”
It will be exciting to see sophomore, Toccoa Hampton, come confidently off the bench and help the team out in different ways, and freshman back-up point guard, Braylee Davenport, contribute to the team as well. But as far as returning core starters, they are experienced and determined athletes. “They are juniors and seniors that got rings, who are battle tested, and ready to go get it done,” said Chastain with a proud look on his face.
Beyond basketball, Coach Chastain strives to instill good values and habits in his athletes. He explained, “People need to understand that the values we instill on the basketball court are the same values that help them succeed in life.”
“The Lady Rebels program instills good values such as good work ethic, respect for others, and Christian based morals to prepare these young ladies for adulthood,” said Chastain. In the real world you must go to work even when you do not want to, and it is the same for the Fannin program—these athletes may be hurting but they must go to practice.
Coach Chastain gives much praise to the Fannin County community. “The people of Fannin county’s love for women’s basketball is real,” said Chastain. “Not only does the community love to flood the gym and watch the Lady Rebels take the court, but former, current, and future players enjoy it more than anyone else. It is a well-known fact that those who come through the program and succeed, take pride in the jersey they wear.”
Coach Chastain has a lot of experience through his years of service. “This job is not for you if you don’t like kids. You need to love, do good, and do right by your players… build confidence and empower the kids. At the end of the day, it is not about you, it is about the athletes.”
Coach Chastain is most proud of his team because of their unity. “They are out there doing it as a unit. The question you have to ask as a coach is, ‘If I was sitting down and quiet, could we still win?’ and if so, that makes you, as coach, very happy. But most of all, I am most proud of the reputation these young ladies hold in the community.”
As Coach Chastain and the Lady Rebels start a new season, they carry more than the pride of a state title; they carry the pride of a community who supports them, believes in them, and is proud of them as they work to hang another banner.
(Ava Ethington is a Fannin County High School senior dual enrolled at the University of North Georgia Blue Ridge campus).