March 18, 2025—It's no secret that Cobb has some of the best sports talent in the state, but the District also boasts some of the best coaches. There are many milestones in a coach's career, but overall wins are one of the most important stats to measure a coach's effectiveness and ability to motivate high school players. They are also a testament to dedication, leadership, and a lasting impact on players and the program.

Few achieve three hundred career wins, and five hundred is a rare coaching accomplishment. It speaks volumes about Cobb's talent that five coaches have recently been celebrated for achieving career landmark wins.

South Cobb Boys Basketball Head Coach Hollis Bethea recently won his 300th game as a head coach. The school publicly recognized him after a win over Harrison on January 14, 2025. Coach Bethea took eight years off from coaching while serving as an administrator in Fulton County Schools. He returned to the bench in 2013 and has since won more than 100 games to reach his 300th.

Five hundred victories in high school baseball is an incredible achievement. It takes not only skill and perseverance; it takes a lot of time. Considering that baseball's regular season has about 30 games, it would take more than 16 seasons to play 500 games, much less get that many wins. Realistically, it takes two to three decades of exceptional performance on the diamond to get anywhere close to 500 wins. Cobb now has four more coaches to add to this elite club.

Walton's Shane Amos recently won his 500th game with a 13-6 victory over North Cobb. He has been in Cobb his entire career and at Walton for over 30 years. Coach Amos has won two state titles and seven region titles and has guided his teams to the postseason 20 times. 

Kennesaw Mountain's Head Coach George Hansen also recorded his 500th win in February with a 4-1 victory over Paulding County. Coach Hansen has achieved this milestone along with his longtime assistant coach Rich Oria. The duo celebrated their 500th win together, as they have celebrated many others in their 30-year careers at Kennesaw. They have won four region titles, many postseason games, and been state runner-ups.

Not to be outdone by his older brother, Allatoona's Head Coach, Keith Hansen, also won his 500th game three weeks later. Coach Hansen won his 500th with a 2-1 victory over Cartersville. In his 22-year head coaching career, Coach Hansen has been to the postseason 18 times, won nine region titles, and been state runner-up twice. 

"This is a glimpse into the quality of people we have in Cobb," said Director of Athletics Don Baker. "That number didn't just happen. It happened through a lot of work and through really good kids on the field and off the field, really good booster clubs and community members, and administrations that help with the things that they need."

"These five won't be the only ones to reach milestones this year, but it's a real true testament to what they've been doing at their individual schools and in their programs. We couldn't be more proud of all five of them!" Don Baker concluded proudly.