By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
Cedar Bluff’s Colby Coursey and Gaylesville’s Kolby Brannon – two of this year’s baseball playoff coaches in Cherokee County – will not be retained by their respective schools for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.
Coursey led Cedar Bluff to a 20-10 season on the field this year, but the Tigers had to forfeit four of those games due to the use of an ineligible player. They still made the Class 2A state playoffs, however, falling in the first round at fourth-ranked Decatur Heritage.
In 2024, Cedar Bluff ended a two-year playoff drought by finishing runner-up in Class 1A, Area 13. They lost in the first round at Lynn to finish that season at 16-13.
“Two years ago, I was hired at Cedar Bluff to essentially turn a baseball program around,” Coursey said. “In two years, my guys had two winning seasons, won 36 games, made two playoff appearances, and had their first 20-win season in 10 years. They bought in and they played for each other and for myself.
“I am not easy to play for. I expect my players to have discipline, respect for the game, and a selfless demeanor. These guys did just that.”
Cedar Bluff Principal Torey McDaniel said the school “just decided to go in a different direction.”
“I thought Colby did a pretty good job with the baseball team. He rallied the troops through a difficult season this year,” he said. “He did a good job of keeping the team afloat, but a little bit more goes into it when you’re talking about an overall sports program. But as a baseball coach, I thought he did a pretty good job, especially keeping the guys’ heads in it and making the playoffs this year.”
Coursey said things ran deeper for him than just being the Tigers’ head baseball coach.
“Outside of the baseball field we were a family,” he said. “My family and I loved each one of those guys like they were one of our own. They have spent many hours in our home and will always receive the love and respect that they need and deserve. They truly are wonderful guys and will continue to do great things.
“Some things in life don’t always go our way, and we don’t always have the final say, but I know I was put at Cedar Bluff for them. I needed them as much as they needed me. They will always be family.”
Similar to Coursey, Brannon was tasked with turning things around with the Gaylesville baseball and basketball programs.
In baseball this season, the Trojans were 9-13 and finished as Class 1A, Area 12 runner-up to Spring Garden to clinch their first baseball playoff berth since 2019.
In basketball, Brannon coached both the boys and girls squads in 2024-25.
During the 2023-24 season, Brannon guided the Trojan boys to their first Cherokee County Tournament runner-up finish since 1988. They also fell a game short of an area championship, which also would’ve been their first since 1988.
Gaylesville did, however, reach the sub-regional round that season, which came to an end at 17-16 with a loss at Faith Christian.
Between the basketball and baseball programs, Brannon coached the Trojans to 62 wins.
Brannon declined comment to WEIS on being let go at Gaylesville, but on his personal Facebook page stated in part, “Naturally there are a lot of emotions as I reflect on the past three years. I gave everything I had to this school and these students, setting aside pride and ego to focus entirely on their growth and success.
“While it has been a roller coaster at times, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”
Gaylesville Principal Terry Gilbreath said he is “appreciative of the time Kolby spent here and the work he put in.”
“We wish him and his family the very best in the future for sure,” Gilbreath said.
Gilbreath also said the Trojans do plan on retaining Brannon’s wife, Kaylee, who coaches the Lady Trojan volleyball team.
