Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association

2009

Coach of the Year

Carrie Lasseter, Thomas County Central High School

Carrie Lasseter coaches the varsity football and competition squad at Thomas County Central High School where she also teaches American and British literature. This is her tenth year teaching and coaching and her fifth year as head cheerleading coach. Lasseter is the 1st Vice President of the Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association. She has also served as of Newsletter Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, Region Representative, 3rd Vice President, and 2nd Vice President. She graduated from Florida State University in 2000 with a B.S. degree in English education and from Valdosta State University in 2004 with a M.S. degree in secondary education. She currently lives in Moultrie with her husband, Judd, who manages the Lasseter Equipment John Deere dealerships in Moultrie, Hazlehurst, Lyons, Unadilla, and Ocilla.

2008

Coach of the Year

Caren Hudson, Alpharetta High School

Coach Caren Hudson is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she earned her BS in Education and her M.Ed. in Secondary Education. She later attended West Georgia College and Kennesaw State where she obtained her Leadership and Administrative Leadership Degrees. She has been a teacher, department chair and administrator during her 23 year teaching career, and has spent 12 of those years at Chattahoochee. For the past two years, Coach Hudson is at Alpharetta High School where she is the Instructional Support Specialist. At Alpharetta, she is also the director of the Cheerleading program. She remains the head of the Competition/Football Cheer program and head coach of the varsity cheer team at Chattahoochee where she has coached for the past 13 years, leading her teams to eight regional titles and four State Championships. She was named by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association as Region Coach of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and State Coach of the Year in 2001, 2003 and 2005. Coach Hudson has two daughters, Cody (13) and MacKenzie (10) who both cheer for the Allstar Panthers. She is currently engaged to Larry Lawson who is the director of the Allstar program at Allstar Panthers.

2007

Coach of the Year

Lin Lindsay, Eastside High School

2006

GCCA Coach of the Year

Dr. Lynda Waller, Lithia Springs High School

Coach Waller has coached at Lithia Springs High School since its opening. She is the Cheerleading Coordinator for the entire cheerleading program and coaches the varsity football, basketball, and competition squads. Many of her cheerleaders have advanced to the collegiate level, cheering at schools such as UGA, Georgia Tech, GSU, Kennesaw State, and West Georgia. A number of her former cheerleaders have gone to work with international cheerleading organizations like NCA, ICF, and UCA. Some have even continued to the professional level with the Atlanta Falcons and the Georgia Force.

Dr. Waller teaches Family and Consumer Sciences and chairs the Cultural Arts Department. She holds a B.S. Ed. in Home Economics Education from GSU, a Masters degree from UGA, and a Specialists degree from UGA. She and her husband, Gary, have a son, John, and a daughter-in-law, Beth.

2005

GCCA Coach of the Year

Susan Gordy, Carrollton High School

Susan Gordy, 2005 Coach of the Year (center), with Coach of the Year Finalists, Dr. Linda Waller (left) and Julie Arnold (right)"

"We'd be winning State Championships too, if we had a coach like Susan Gordy." This was a statement overheard as a team left the Columbus Civic Center after witnessing the Carrollton High School cheerleaders winning another State Title! Susan Gordy has coached at Carrollton High School for 14 years. She teaches 8th grade math and has been named Outstanding Junior High Educator and nominated for Teacher of the Year and Walt Disney American Teacher Award. Susan is a member of several professional organizations including GCCA. She is a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church and the Advisory Council for Phi Mu Sorority at West GA College. She volunteers for the Carroll County Rape Crisis Center, Tanner Medical Foundation, and the Carrollton County Recreation Department.

Susan has been named GACA State Coach of the Year in 2001, 2004, and 2005, and GACA Region Coach of the Year in 2002. She has successfully produced three State Championship Cheerleading Squads and a second and a third place runner up squad all within the last five consecutive years. Rayvan Teague, athletic director at Carrollton High, commented, "consistent excellence is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about our cheerleading program. Carrollton High School has a great cheerleading program, and that excellence is a direct result of the dedication and expertise of Susan Gordy."

It is quite obvious that Susan Gordy is a great cheer coach and deserves to be recognized for her efforts. On behalf of the Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association, we congratulate Susan on being named 2005 GCCA Cheerleading Coach of the Year.

2004

GCCA Coach of the Year

Karen Ellis, Johnson County High School

This year's Coach of the Year received:

GACA logo gold watch courtesy of the GACA
State Coach of the Year plaques courtesy of the GACA and GCCA
$100 Gift Certificate courtesy of Performance Design
Four-pack of Paints courtesy of Graphic Design
Coach's Briefcase courtesy of Omni Collection
$100 Value Sports Training Kit courtesy of Champion Sports Training
$100 Gift Certificate courtesy of Archie's Sporting Goods
Gym Bag in school colors courtesy of Cheercool.com by GMR
Gift Basket courtesy of Century Resources
Coach's Blanket courtesy of Hudson & Co.
Conference Fees for one state or national conference courtesy of GCCA
$250 Gift Certificate courtesy of Pom Express
Four Hour Stunt Clinic courtesy of North Georgia Sports Academy
$125 Gift Certificate courtesy of Yipes