Woodstock's Sadie Chadwick Among Six CCSD Coaches Named 2026 Coach of the Year Finalists

Six Cherokee County School District coaches have been named Innovation Zone Coach of the Year finalists for 2026, one from each of the district's high school zones, with Woodstock High School flag football coach Sadie Chadwick earning the honor for the Woodstock Zone.

The other five finalists are Gerald Sharpe, golf coach at Cherokee High School (Cherokee Zone); Eric Herrick, girls basketball coach at Creekview High School (Creekview Zone); Chris Bryce, soccer coach at Etowah High School (Etowah Zone); Tracye Bulger, swim coach at River Ridge High School (River Ridge Zone); and Chris Yarbrough, girls basketball coach at Sequoyah High School (Sequoyah Zone).

Each finalist was selected based on outstanding leadership, a tradition of excellence, and meaningful contributions to school culture and community. The recognition carries a practical reward as well: every zone winner receives a BSN Sports credit for sportswear and equipment, a tangible investment back into their program and athletes.

The award structure reflects how CCSD organizes its schools. Each Innovation Zone groups a high school with its feeder middle and elementary schools, aligning resources, leadership, and academic support across an entire cluster. That means zone finalists aren't simply recognized as standouts on their own campus, they're identified as coaches whose influence reaches students across multiple schools and grade levels. For parents and families throughout a zone, that distinction matters.

The competition isn't finished. Judges will review all six finalists and announce an overall CCSD Coach of the Year in May, when one of these coaches will earn the district's top athletic honor.

Chadwick's selection carries its own layer of significance. Girls flag football is among the newer varsity sports in Georgia, added as a sanctioned Georgia High School Association sport in recent years. Programs like Woodstock's have grown quickly, in roster size, competitive depth, and community following, and earning zone coach of the year recognition while the sport is still establishing itself at the varsity level speaks to how rapidly Chadwick has built something worth noticing.

The full CCSD Coach of the Year announcement is expected in May. Residents can watch the district's official channels for the final selection.