FANNIN COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023
By Mike Harper
Avram Allen was elected as the Most Athletic male senior in the Fannin County High School class of 2005. In an era when specialization in athletics was becoming the norm, Avram played basketball four years, football two years and soccer four years during his high school days. His stellar performance in all three sports has earned him a membership card in the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame.
In basketball, Avram was the maestro of the offense, leading the team from the point guard position. He did not score a lot of points but was the team leader in assists, setting the table for his teammates to put the ball in the basket. He was selected as the team Playmaker of the Year following his senior season.
Avram only played football for two seasons, but he provided a virtual highlight reel for his exploits during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The first time he touched the ball on the opening kickoff of the opening game against arch rival Gilmer County in 2003, Avram returned the kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. He was also the team’s placekicker and later added a 38-yard field goal, leading the Rebels to a 15-0 victory. A few weeks later he had an 11-yard run for a touchdown and was named as the Special Teams Player of the Week in a 14-7 win over Pickens County. He continued his outstanding play throughout the year highlighted by a three-touchdown outburst in a victory over Chestatee. In that game Avram scored on touchdown receptions of 65, 34, and 49 yards leading his team to another victory. He was selected as the Special Teams Player of the Year for the 2003 season.
The 2004 season Rebel football team won only three games, but Avram Allen had another big year as a wide receiver and kicker and earned the Offensive Player of the Year in recognition of his efforts. He kicked the game winning field goal in an overtime victory over West Hall and had 6 receptions including two for touchdowns in the 34-14 decision over Chestatee.
In soccer, Avram’s first love and best sport, he was named as the Fannin County Most Valuable Offensive Player as a sophomore, junior and senior. He holds the Rebel records for most goals scored in a season with 29 and for most goals scored in a career with 86.
After graduating from high school, Avram played soccer for two seasons at Young Harris University where he was elected team captain and selected to the region all-tournament second team as a senior. He helped the Mountain Lions advance to the NJCAA Region 17 finals as a senior.
Moving on to the University of North Georgia, Avram earned two varsity letters as a midfielder and was named to the Peach Belt Conference all-tournament team.
In a 2007 game against Lander College, the #7 team in the nation, Avram scored two goals providing the victory margin in a 2-0 North Georgia upset.
Following his playing days, Avram Allen served as an assistant soccer coach at Young Harris one season, followed by seven years as an assistant coach at North Georgia. He then held down the head coaching reins at Athletico Lanier of National Premier Soccer League. He was also involved with the development of youth players and coaches while serving as the Girls’ Director of Coaching at Lanier Soccer Association, as shown in the photo directly left. He recently completed his first season as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Young Harris University.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health with a minor in leadership in 2010 and a master’s degree in arts and teaching from the University of North Georgia in 2015.
He holds a USSF ‘B’ license as well as United Coaches Premier diploma.
When asked about his coaching philosophy Avram uses terms such as ‘up tempo’, ‘energetic’ and ‘enthusiastic’. He expects his players to play with the same level of intensity that he possessed first as a player and now as a coach. His goal is for his players to ‘take something positive’ from their experience playing for him and for the Mountain Lions. Avram feels that college coaches have a ‘massive influence on the lives of student-athletes’ and he does not take that responsibility lightly.
Avram and Hannah Allen were married in 2012. They have two beautiful children, daughter Londyn, age nine, and son Liam, age five.