Passionate, inspiring and loving; these are a few of the words that describe Gainesville High School’s Boys varsity basketball coach, Benjie Wood.
Speaking with Coach Wood, it is obvious he has a zest for life and a great love for his family, his players and his profession. After coaching at North Hall High School for seven years, he was offered a position at Gainesville and accepted the new challenge.
Coach Wood shared a love for the game with his father, Benny Wood, who was inducted into the North Gwinnett Hall of Fame in 1965. After playing basketball throughout his years at Buford High School, Benjie began to call the offense and defense plays for his team. He thoroughly enjoyed the strategies of the game and knew from then that he wanted to pursue a career in coaching.
Coach Wood has high expectations for his players on and off the court. He takes the challenge of pushing his athletes to do their very best with love and discipline. With a coaching record of 342 wins and 141 losses overall, it is clear that Coach Wood has been a huge success during his coaching career.
Spend some time with Coach Wood and you will realize that he is a great coach, mentor, friend and father. We thank Coach Wood for taking the time to answer some questions about his life, interests, and love for Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “When I was younger I had several teachers and coaches that inspired me.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “I love Longstreet Cafe. Everything is good there!”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “17 years.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “Nick Bennett or Randy Coleman.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “Hawaii or Tahiti. To get away, de-stress, enjoy the beauty and be somewhere my cell phone doesn’t ring!”
Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “The Rush Hour series because I love to laugh.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Talk less, listen more.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Travel to Tahiti or take my wife to Paris.”
Q: What is your favorite music/three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “I like all kinds of music, my playlist will switch from country to hip hop within a minute. My top three bands would have to be Prince, Luke Bryan and Janet Jackson.”
Q: What former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “The Dairy Mart. When I coached the Johnson girls basketball team, the girls and I would walk across the street for burgers and shakes.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why this person? Where in Hall County would you have this lunch?
A: “Charles Barkley – he’s a basketball player and he’s hilarious. We would go to Longstreet Cafe.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The location of Hall County; on Lake Lanier, 45 minutes from Athens and easy driving distance to the beach and mountains.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Enjoying my family.”
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I like to dance!”
Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern: Bessie Winston
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.
PROJECT PATRONS:
