The following is a story by John Goolsby, prep sports editor of the Trussville Tribune:
CENTER POINT, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) -- George Bates, the head coach and athletic director at Center Point High School, informed his players and staff Wednesday morning that he is leaving the school.
Bates leaves Center Point after seven seasons. The Midfield native compiled a 52-30 record as the Eagles’ head coach, taking Center Point to seven consecutive playoff appearances with two trips to the quarterfinals.
“Center Point will always have a special place in my heart,” said Bates. “The obstacles and adversity we were able to overcome made us a true family.”
Bates began his head coaching career at Parker in 2012 and led the Thundering Herd to the second round of the playoffs in 2013.
The 2014 season saw Bates become the head coach at Minor High School. He led the Tenacious Tigers to the quarterfinals in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Bates departed Minor for Woodlawn High School after compiling a 26-11 record.
Bates spent one year as the Colonels’ head coach before moving to Center Point.
“George is an outstanding football coach,” said Leeds’ Jerry Hood. “He really made Center Point’s football program a great success.”
“Knowing the challenges that he had to work through as far as support and funding, I thought he did an incredible job,” said Hood. “His players always play the game the right way and I believe George does it the right way.”
Bates, a University of West Alabama graduate and former Tiger safety with 302 career tackles, actively promotes his “complete scholar athletes” and Center Point on social media. He coined the phrase “CP-NOT-me,” which has become the school’s unofficial motto.
“The game of football was just a tool to help us unite as one and that’ll be what makes us all successful in our future endeavors,” Bates said. “CP, not me.”
Bates’s overall record is 91-60 over 13 seasons.