Christian Heritage hires three new varsity coaches

Published 8:00 pm Monday, March 21, 2016

Christian Heritage School filled three varsity head coaching openings on Monday.

The school elevated Jay Poag to head football coach. Poag was the team’s offensive coordinator and has been the school’s interim coach after former coach Preston Poag, Jay’s brother, left to become the head football coach at North Murray High School.

Christian Heritage also announced Maggie Peeples as head girls basketball coach, and Jamey Middleton as head baseball coach.

“The athletic program at CHS is an integral part of the school and is one of the four pillars on which the school is built,” athletic director Chad Jordan said in a press release. “I am truly excited about our recent hiring decisions. The addition of Maggie to basketball, Jamey to baseball and Jay to football will continue to strengthen our programs and build upon the successes we have had.”

Poag takes over the football program immediately. His experience includes 20 years of coaching at the high school and collegiate levels. Poag received a bachelor of arts degree from Davidson College (N.C.) where he was a four-year starter on the football team. He earned his masters in sports administration from North Carolina State.

Poag inherits a team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the Georgia High School Association’s Class A Private School playoffs. The Lions finished 6-6 on the season.

“My family and I are excited to start this new chapter in our lives,” Poag said. “We feel like Christian Heritage is the perfect fit for us and we look forward to continuing to build the foundation that has been laid before us. My college coaching career has been spent at institutions that place a high value on a partnership between academics and athletics. That’s exactly what we are building here at CHS.

“Getting a taste this past year of how special it is to win playoff games only serves to motivate all of us to get back to that level. That’s what we will start working toward this week. We are excited about the future and can’t wait to get started.”

Jordan added Poag’s desire for his athletes to succeed off the field helped set him apart.

“It’s obvious that his passion is for the whole person,” he said. “His desire is to develop the athlete on the field, as well as the student in the classroom. He has worked with the CHS Lions football program over the last couple years as the offensive coordinator, so he knows the kids and already has relationships with many of them.”

Peeples is a 2012 Christian Heritage graduate and holds the school’s all-time scoring record. She was named The Daily Citizen’s girls basketball player of the year for the 2011-12 season. She scored more than 2,000 points in a five-year varsity career, as she was able to start on the varsity as an eighth-grader under Georgia Independent School Association rules.

She just concluded a playing career at Shorter University and graduated with a bachelor of science degree.

She has stayed around the Christian Heritage program working with the team in the offseason.

“Maggie has worked with our team over the years as camp coordinator and summer coach,” Jordan said. “She knows the game and is familiar with the our program.”

Peeples will also be assistant to the athletic director.

Middleton currently works as a teacher and baseball coach at New Hope Middle School. He played baseball at LaGrange College and has a bachelors of arts degree. He earned a masters in educational instruction from Central Michigan University.

Middleton is also involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a huddle coach.

“My family and I believe that CHS is where God is directing us at this point in our lives,” he said. “This has been a tough decision because of what New Hope Middle School has meant to me. It’s a great place and I will definitely miss my students, players and co-workers. However, we are very excited about this new opportunity. I am looking forward to joining the CHS family and building new relationships there. I can’t wait to meet the players and get to work.”

“Jamey’s experience with baseball and his desire to mentor on and off the field will play a vital role in continuing to build a strong team and take this program to the next level,” Jordan said.