It was the end of a distinguished journey for Tim Adams and the beginning of one for Brysen Collier.

Adams, the boys track coach at Bryan County High School where he has also served as the defensive coordinator in football, is retiring after 30-plus years while Collier, the girls' track coach, is in his first year of coaching after serving as a volunteer coach while he completed his degree.

The two men both saw their thinclads enjoy their finest year ever on the outdoor oval. The boys won the Region 3A-DII championship and went on to finish 10th in the state track meet after posting a school-best 17th finish last year.

The girls had a breakout season, too, as they took second-place in both the state and region meets, finishing behind Metter in both events.

Both Adams and Collier, in typical coaching fashion, downplayed their roles, choosing to give their athletes full credit for the success their teams enjoyed, which no doubt came as a surprise to non-track followers.

Collier especially deflected credit to Adams and coaches who came before him for laying the foundation for success, not only for this season but for seasons to come.

“The accomplishments of both track programs this season is attributed to great effort and consistency from both athletes and coaches,” Collier said. “The foundation was built by Coach Adams and Coach Sean Coburn (now coaching at South Effingham) over the past several years.

“The foundation that has been built will help subsequent successful seasons for Bryan County boys and girls track for years to come,” Collier said. “Our Lady Redskins had several athletes setting personal records.

“I am beyond proud of the effort and work put in by our athletes. Additionally, Coach Kendall Vance and Coach Ryan Collier showed relentless effort and dedication through the season.”

Collier is the son of Redskins assistant football and track coach Ryan Collier, who is also the school’s head wrestling coach. His younger brother, Corey, is a standout offensive lineman and linebacker in football.

Adams is one of the most respected coaches in the Coastal Empire. He has been at Bryan County the past eight years and has played a major role in Coach Cherard Freeman’s rebuilding of the football program.

Adams knows all about rebuilding. He was the head coach at Jenkins High School where he took over a moribund program that had one winning season in 21 years. In 13 seasons with the Warriors, he went 63=70 which is the school record for most wins.

His last season at Jenkins in 2016 saw the Warriors go 10-2, win a region title, and reach the Sweet 16. It was Jenkins’ third straight winning season. It should be noted, too, that Adams, like other Chatham County coaches, had to compete at the Class 5A level—at that time the highest classification—due to school board requirements although enrollment-wise they were Class 3A schools.

When going up against his fellow Chatham County schools Adams’ Warriors were 39-19-1, and he had the distinction of going 4-0 against Benedictine. Obviously when Adams’ teams were competing on a level playing field they more than held their own.

After leaving Jenkins, the veteran coach, who played for Erk Russell at Georgia Southern, couldn’t stay away. He resurfaced as an assistant coach at Effingham County before moving to Bryan County.

Adams stayed on when Freeman took over the program, and it has been a fruitful partnership both on and off the field, where they have become fast friends. Adams took over the track program four years ago, and progress has been made in leaps and bounds.

“Both the boys and girls track programs had an outstanding year,” Adams said. “The track program, both the boys and girls, has come a long way in the last four years. Each year we have added more success.

“This is evident by the increasing number of athletes who have medaled at region and advanced through sectionals and onto state,” Adams said. “Now we are seeing success at the state championship through medaling in both individual and team scoring results.”

The increased success, along with an improved facility, has led to other benefits, too, Adams said. He pointed out that Bryan County had hosted the region meet three years in a row, and this year held the sectional meet, which brought teams from four regions to Pembroke.