Remembering Coach Mike Nash đđ
We lost a great one last night.
Coach Mike Nash wasnât just a football coach; he was a mentor who molded young men and a servant leader dedicated to the Dunwoody community.
This past summer, Dunwoody got the chance to give that love back. The Dunwoody Homeowners Association named him Grand Marshal of the 2025 Dunwoody 4th of July Parade, one of the cityâs highest honors. When Penny Forman and I told him the news, he teared up right there at the meeting. On July 4th, he told me it was one of the best days of his life.
He rode proudly in Snyppâs red convertible with our friends Jamie Walden and Matt Blankenship, waving to the crowd with a huge smile. What made it special wasnât the title; it was seeing the faces of the kids he coached, the parents who supported him, and the community that embraced his family. It was a heartfelt send-off from the city he loved.
When he accepted the honor, he told the crowd at the DHA, âIâm not taking a promotion or anything else because I donât think there is anything better than Dunwoody. I hope you all realize how special this place is ⊠love is a big part of what we talk about.â He said he wasnât leaving for a better place, just a different one, and reminded us that if you love Dunwoody, it will love you back.
When he took over the Dunwoody High School football program, the Wildcats were struggling; just 17 players showed up to his first interest meeting. Many wouldâve walked away. But not Mike. He told Principal Tom McFerrin, âItâs going to take 10 years to fix this thing.â He kept that promise, leading Dunwoody back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
He often said the foundation was laid by those first 17 kids who believed in him. âThis success is built on the backs of those guys from 2015,â he told The Champion Newspaper. They helped rebuild a culture of toughness, accountability, and heart.
Coach Nash made it his mission to help teenagers grow into men, teaching discipline, character, and faith on and off the field. To him, football was a classroom for life, a place to teach integrity, leadership, and love.
Mikeâs heart was anchored in his family. He often said his life revolved around faith, family, and football. One of his proudest moments was officiating his own daughterâs wedding, and as he loved to joke, âofficiating the wedding of one of my daughters (to my offensive line coach) is a bonus!â This summer, he was preparing for a new chapter, moving to Chattahoochee County to be closer to his young granddaughter and taking a new coaching job near his daughterâs husbandâs family.
Mike lived in Dunwoody North for several years and remained connected as a proud member of the Dunwoody North Driving Club. That pool was his happy place, where heâd catch up with friends, tell stories, and laugh deep from the belly. Away from the field, he was just Mikeâloyal, funny, and fiercely proud of his people.
Coach Nash leaves behind a legacy far greater than wins and losses. He rebuilt a program, restored pride in a school, and helped raise a generation of young men. He showed us what patience, vision, and heart can do when you stay the course. More than anything, he showed us how to love deeplyâour players, our families, and our community.
Our hearts are heavy, but our gratitude runs deep.
Thank you, Coach. You made Dunwoody proud. đ
