HCA Announces Departure of Head Football Coach Jonathan Gess

DACULA, Ga. – Hebron Christian Academy and Director of Athletics Taylor Davis have announced that Head Football Coach Jonathan Gess will be leaving the school to pursue a new opportunity in the state of South Carolina. 

During his three-year tenure with the school, Gess transformed the football program, culminating with the Lions' first GHSA State Championship in school history in 2024. The championship gave Gess his seventh career GHSA state title, tying him for the third-most in GHSA history.

In his three years at HCA, Gess had an overall record of 27-10, including a 12-2 mark during the 2024 championship run. In his 18-year coaching career, he has an overall record of 187-49 (.792).

Hebron Christian Academy will begin an immediate search for its next head football coach, focusing on finding a leader who will continue to build on the strong foundation established by Coach Gess.

From Head Coach Jonathan Gess
"The past three years at Hebron Christian Academy have been truly special, and I am deeply grateful for the incredible people I've met and the amazing opportunities I have experienced at HCA. However, the Lord is leading me to a new chapter, one centered on putting family first. After 18 years of coaching football in Georgia, I sense God calling me to prioritize my wife, Dee, and serve her as Christ loves the Church. While it's difficult to leave behind the success and community we've built, we feel called to return to South Carolina, a state where I grew up and we both attended college. We feel like God has called us to Southside Christian School in Greenville, South Carolina, and we look forward to what God has in store for us in this next chapter of our lives."

From Head of School Dr. James Taylor
"Coach Gess has been a transformational leader for our football program and our school community. He consistently pointed our players back to Christ in everything he did, emphasizing that football is not just about winning games but about building character. His impact on our students, families, and community has been profound, and we are deeply grateful for his time here. We know God will continue to use him in powerful ways in this next chapter of his journey."

From Director of Athletics Taylor Davis
"We have been incredibly blessed over the past three seasons to have one of the greatest coaches in the state of Georgia leading our program. Coach Gess' ability to impact young men through the game of football was truly remarkable, but his greatest gift was directing them toward Christ. While we will miss him dearly, we wish him the very best as he transitions to his new role. I am confident that this will be a highly sought-after position, and I trust that God already has the perfect candidate in store for us to lead our program forward."