Bring It Home Dunwoody: One Family, One Field with Coach Tom Bass
In this episode of the What’s Up Dunwoody podcast, host Matt Weber dives straight into the Bring It Home Dunwoody campaign—a project that will finally give Dunwoody High School a true home-field advantage. The campaign will add 2,000 new seats, a modern press box, restrooms, and concessions, transforming the current facility into a community centerpiece worthy of Friday Night Lights.
What is the Bring It Home Campaign?
Bring It Home is a community-led effort to give Dunwoody High School a real home field. The project focuses on 2,000 additional seats, an updated press box, and long-awaited amenities like restrooms and concessions. The plan also includes fencing upgrades and a green space for families to gather during games. The goal: reach a 3,000-seat capacity—the benchmark for GHSA varsity football—and finally host true home games on campus.
No more driving across town to North DeKalb Stadium. No more split “home” games. With directional sound focused toward the stands and strong parking options, this upgrade blends school pride with neighborhood practicality.
Addressing Community Concerns
Some neighbors have asked about noise, parking, and traffic. The Bring It Home team has worked hard to design a plan that respects the surrounding community:
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Directional sound keeps music and announcements aimed toward the field and stands, reducing noise impact in nearby neighborhoods. The natural tree line surrounding the field also acts as a sound buffer, helping contain and soften any game-night noise.
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Limited event nights—only a handful of home football games each year—mean most weeks the field remains quiet. There will be some smaller events like soccer, lacrosse, or community pep rallies, but none draw the same crowds or traffic as varsity football nights.
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Parking and access are well planned, with onsite lots, nearby overflow partnerships, and safe walking routes from surrounding streets. Overflow parking options mentioned in the podcast include Vanderlyn Elementary School and Saint Luke's Presbyterian Church, both within easy walking distance of the Dunwoody High campus.
This is a thoughtful, balanced upgrade that enhances community spirit without disrupting daily life. It’s about living in Dunwoody and actually cheering in Dunwoody.
Why this project matters to the community
This campaign is more than concrete and aluminum. It’s about creating a shared community space. Once completed, Dunwoody High can host graduations, pep rallies, band showcases, and youth sports events. Families from Vanderlyn, Dunwoody Elementary, and Peachtree Middle will all gather under the same lights. The new setup will strengthen bonds between generations of Wildcats—past, present, and future.
If you’re moving to Dunwoody or relocating from another part of Atlanta, this type of investment tells you everything you need to know about the community. Dunwoody shows up for its kids, and this project proves it.
How did this finally get greenlit?
Dunwoody families have dreamed about this for over 20 years. Thanks to many folks including DeKalb County Board of Education District 1 representative Andrew Ziffer, the vision is finally becoming reality. The result: DeKalb officially approved Dunwoody’s plan for new seating and a press box, funded entirely by community donations.
Gifts for the campaign are received by the designated nonprofit partner, the Dunwoody High School Community Association Inc., and may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. (Please consult your tax advisor for details.) A major anonymous donation from one of Dunwoody High’s most well-known entertainment alumni, helped ignite early momentum for the project, inspiring others to step up and give to make the improvements even better. The Bring It Home website showcases renderings, giving levels, and an active donor wall as excitement grows.
What will you actually see on game day?
Expanded seating: 2,000 new aluminum seats joined to a modern home-side structure, 20 rows high with ADA access, wider aisles, and handrails. Total capacity: 3,000.
Real restrooms and concessions: Clean bathrooms and shorter lines for hot chocolate and popcorn.
Directional sound: Focused audio that keeps music and announcements contained to the field and stands.
Family-friendly spaces: A green zone for kids to toss a football while parents enjoy the game.
Easy parking: Ample onsite spots, with overflow partnerships and safe walking routes from nearby neighborhoods.
Who is Coach Tom Bass and why does this mean so much to him?
If you live in Dunwoody long enough, you eventually meet Coach Tom Bass. Maybe it’s at the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade. Maybe it’s at Brook Run Park Baseball Fields where he somehow knows your kid by name. Coach Bass has taught English, won state titles as a baseball coach, and now serves as principal of Dunwoody High School. He’s the steady leader who has helped rally the community around this campaign.
When he talks about Bring It Home, you can feel both pride and relief—it’s finally happening. “It’s about belonging,” he says. “It’s about creating a place where our kids and our neighbors come together.”
The legacy of Coach Mike Nash and the Junior Wildcats
The late Coach Mike Nash helped start the Junior Wildcats football program and was a driving force behind efforts to bring varsity football home. His energy and belief in Dunwoody’s kids inspired generations. Many in the community say, “Coach Nash started this, and we’re finishing it.” The Bring It Home campaign continues the vision he championed—keeping kids close to campus, close to their mentors, and close to the heart of Dunwoody.
The timeline
Construction begins once fundraising goals are reached and contracts are executed. Build time: roughly 9–12 months. The sooner donations come in, the sooner Dunwoody can host home games under the lights. If you’re a parent of an eighth grader like Matt, now’s the time—you want your student on that field as a freshman. Coach Bass wants that too.
Giving levels and recognition
All Paws In: Start at $20, get a magnet, and join the online donor list.
Paw Partner: Add a yard sign and recognition in game-day programs.
Game Starter & Game Changer: Founder’s Wall recognition, on-field shoutouts, and potential row naming rights.
Legacy Wildcat: Top-tier donors receive permanent recognition on the Founders Wall or engraved bricks. Corporate sponsors welcome.
What should you do tonight if you want this to happen?
Go to the Bring It Home site and donate. If you can swing a yard sign, do it—those signs spark conversations that lead to more gifts. Businesses can explore corporate sponsorships, and neighborhood groups can team up to make collective donations. The Bring It Home crew will also be at Light Up Dunwoody to meet the team and learn more.
Why this episode matters beyond the project
What’s Up Dunwoody has always been about connection. Host Matt Weber grew up on bleachers just like these in nearby Gwinnett and understands what this will mean to the Dunwoody community. Bring It Home isn’t just about football—it’s about community identity. Friday nights. School pride. Alumni hugs.
If you want a pregame burger, check our Dunwoody Restaurant Guide. If you’re new to town, explore the Dunwoody Events Calendar. And if you’re thinking about buying or selling, talk to Dunwoody REALTOR® Matt Weber for the inside scoop on schools, parks, and neighborhoods.
Call to Action
Visit the Bring It Home Dunwoody website to see renderings, giving levels, and sponsor opportunities. Whether it’s $20 or $20,000, every contribution helps bring Friday Night Lights home to Dunwoody High School.
Show Notes
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Project scope: 2,000 new seats, press box, restrooms, concessions, fencing, and green space.
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Goal: GHSA-approved 3,000-seat stadium for varsity football and community events.
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Supporters: Principal Tom Bass, Board Member Andrew Ziffer, the Wildcat Foundation, and the family of Coach Mike Nash.
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Timeline: Fundraising now; construction to follow.
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Giving levels: All Paws In through Legacy Wildcat.
About What’s Up Dunwoody
What’s Up Dunwoody is hosted by REALTOR® Matt Weber, spotlighting local businesses, events, and neighbors across Dunwoody, Georgia. Follow along at whatsupdunwoody.com for new episodes and community updates.
