Many coaches have walked the halls of Bryan County High School having left some small part of themselves instilled in the young live that they were responsible to educate.
Many students, both past and present, have memories of coaches and a few have even changed the course of their lives because of the influence of a coach.
Several coaches have been deemed local legends and will always have a place in BCHS history. One of the most memorable and loved was Albert Lodge. Coach Lodge was the softball/baseball coach at BCHS during the early and mid 1980’s and coached the girls’ softball team to a state championship in 1983 and 1986.
The Georgia Dugout Club, the only Georgia Association of High School baseball coaches in the state, has chosen Lodge for induction into their Hall of Fame. He called it an honor.
“I am extremely honored to be inducted into the Georgia Hall of Fame,” Lodge said. “Anytime a coach is given an award or honor, the great thing about it is that it recognizes everyone involved - the players, the assistant coaches and the community. I feel privileged indeed to have been able to teach and coach so many fine young people in Pembroke. I am extremely proud to have Bryan County High School on the side of my Hall of Fame ring.”
Harvey Cochran, President of the Georgia Dugout Club spoke highly of Lodge and said induction into the Hall of Fame was one of the greatest honors a coach could achieve.
There are no concrete achievements for induction into the Hall of Fame but a coach’s years of service, their achievements during that service and how much that coach has done for the sport of baseball throughout his career are all taken into consideration when choosing an inductee.
Lodge has certainly had his share of achievements. In baseball, he holds the state record of eight straight region wins and an overall 13 region wins. He has a career record of 422-193. In 1976, he was named the state’s coach of the year and coached Savannah High School to a Class AAA State Championship. That 1976 team was ranked in the top 100 high school teams in the United States. In 1983, he was named the coach of the Junior Olympic Baseball Team. He was the 1985 Georgia nominee for national coach of the year and the 1986 South All Star Coach in Atlanta.
Lodge was awarded the Georgia Dugout Club’s Milestone Award in 2005 for 400 wins. Baseball was not the only sport that Lodge excelled in. He has coached eight region championship softball teams and two state championship softball teams. He was named the 1984 head All Star coach in Augusta. His Hall of Fame inductions include the 2001 Greater Savannah Hall of Fame and the 2006 Benedictine Military Hall of Fame.
Lodge continued his coaching and teaching career after leaving BCHS and is currently the assistant principal at Long County Middle School and the current assistant coach of the Benedictine Military Academy baseball team. Lodge has certainly left behind his legacy at Bryan County High School. All of the current Ladyskins softball team coaches and assistant coaches and the head coach of the Redskin Baseball team all played for Lodge.
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. in the Sheraton Midtown in Atlanta on 14th Street. All former students interested in attending are welcome. Mapquest directions to the ceremony location are- Interstate 16/75 to Atlanta, turn on exit 250 in Atlanta and turn right onto 14th Street. The Sheraton Midtown is a few blocks from the interstate on 14th Street.
Many students, both past and present, have memories of coaches and a few have even changed the course of their lives because of the influence of a coach.
Several coaches have been deemed local legends and will always have a place in BCHS history. One of the most memorable and loved was Albert Lodge. Coach Lodge was the softball/baseball coach at BCHS during the early and mid 1980’s and coached the girls’ softball team to a state championship in 1983 and 1986.
The Georgia Dugout Club, the only Georgia Association of High School baseball coaches in the state, has chosen Lodge for induction into their Hall of Fame. He called it an honor.
“I am extremely honored to be inducted into the Georgia Hall of Fame,” Lodge said. “Anytime a coach is given an award or honor, the great thing about it is that it recognizes everyone involved - the players, the assistant coaches and the community. I feel privileged indeed to have been able to teach and coach so many fine young people in Pembroke. I am extremely proud to have Bryan County High School on the side of my Hall of Fame ring.”
Harvey Cochran, President of the Georgia Dugout Club spoke highly of Lodge and said induction into the Hall of Fame was one of the greatest honors a coach could achieve.
There are no concrete achievements for induction into the Hall of Fame but a coach’s years of service, their achievements during that service and how much that coach has done for the sport of baseball throughout his career are all taken into consideration when choosing an inductee.
Lodge has certainly had his share of achievements. In baseball, he holds the state record of eight straight region wins and an overall 13 region wins. He has a career record of 422-193. In 1976, he was named the state’s coach of the year and coached Savannah High School to a Class AAA State Championship. That 1976 team was ranked in the top 100 high school teams in the United States. In 1983, he was named the coach of the Junior Olympic Baseball Team. He was the 1985 Georgia nominee for national coach of the year and the 1986 South All Star Coach in Atlanta.
Lodge was awarded the Georgia Dugout Club’s Milestone Award in 2005 for 400 wins. Baseball was not the only sport that Lodge excelled in. He has coached eight region championship softball teams and two state championship softball teams. He was named the 1984 head All Star coach in Augusta. His Hall of Fame inductions include the 2001 Greater Savannah Hall of Fame and the 2006 Benedictine Military Hall of Fame.
Lodge continued his coaching and teaching career after leaving BCHS and is currently the assistant principal at Long County Middle School and the current assistant coach of the Benedictine Military Academy baseball team. Lodge has certainly left behind his legacy at Bryan County High School. All of the current Ladyskins softball team coaches and assistant coaches and the head coach of the Redskin Baseball team all played for Lodge.
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. in the Sheraton Midtown in Atlanta on 14th Street. All former students interested in attending are welcome. Mapquest directions to the ceremony location are- Interstate 16/75 to Atlanta, turn on exit 250 in Atlanta and turn right onto 14th Street. The Sheraton Midtown is a few blocks from the interstate on 14th Street.