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Dennard wraps up storied career at Bulloch Academy
Chandler Dennard
Chandler Dennard coaches the Bulloch Academy girls basketball team vs. Thomas Jefferson on Thursday, Jan. 4. Dennard has announced his retirement. - photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff

After nearly 20 years of coaching at Bulloch Academy Chandler Dennard recently announced he was retiring from coaching.


Dennard retires with an overall basketball coaching record of 457-188. He began his coaching career at Brentwood in Sandersville where he helped the War Eagles to back-to-back state titles in 2003 and 04. He also won a total of 15 region titles and made nine Final Four appearances in his coaching career.


“I am so grateful for the opportunity to have coached so many great kids, Dennard said. “I love coaching and being around the kids and I am sure I will miss it. It has just gotten to the point where I am busy with my job at Willow Pond and really want to spend more time with my grandkids."


Dennard came to Bulloch Academy as the head boys basketball coach in 2006. He coached the boys until 2017, and then came back to coach the girls the last five seasons. Among his Final-4 appearances was this season with the Lady Gators, which he credits as one of his most memorable seasons coaching.


“Some of the most rewarding times as a head coach were taking a team that wasn’t supposed to do well and going far,” Dennard said. “I don’t think many people gave this year’s group much of a chance to do anything and we not only won the region, but made it to the Final-4. Seeing a group overachieve by working hard is so satisfying.”


In addition to coaching boys and girls basketball Dennard also won two state titles as track coach at Brentwood and coached the Bulloch Academy softball team from 2006-2017. In that time, he led the Gators to their first fast pitch region championship and went to a state championship in 2006. Being head softball coach also gave him a chance to coach both of his daughters.


“We made it all the way to the state championship and got beat by Trinity in 2006,” Dennard said. “Kaylee and Lauren were as competitive as I am so I had to do some coaching of them through my assistants sometimes as they had heard enough of dad. I was fortunate they were both good players. Lauren was an eighth grader and Kaylee was in the 11th grade and I put Lauren in to pitch in the state championship game. She walked the first batter and Kaylee came out to talk to her and I was coming out too, but she held up her hand and let me know she could handle it. I have a picture of that moment as well and it is very special to me.”


In addition to all the region championships and Final-4 appearances Dennard is most proud of the fact that he only had one losing season, and that team was 12-13.


“I was lucky enough to have some great players and some really good kids as well,” Dennard said. “My first year at Bulloch Academy the boys had not had a winning record since 1992. We went 14-14 and won the region title and that was very special. The state title teams you remember, but you remember other seasons as well. Being consistent and building a program that could always compete for a region championship is something I am really proud of.”


Dennard only recently announced he was retiring, but says the outpour of gratitude from former players has already touched him.


“The response from former players has been very special,” Dennard said. “There are people I coached 20 years ago saying what an impact I had in their lives. That is what it is all about. I am as competitive as anyone but making a positive impact on a high school student’s life is more important than wins and losses.”