Cobb Schools To Investigate Firings Of 2 Beloved Basketball Coaches

MARIETTA, GA — Cobb County Superintendent Chris Ragsdale on Thursday evening announced an investigation into the firing of two beloved school coaches who have gathered support from the community.

Ragsdale, at a Board of Education meeting, said he first ordered a review into the terminations of former Campbell High School basketball coaches James Gwynn and Randy McClure. The review has since escalated to a full investigation.

Gwynn and McClure, who were with the Smyrna school for 30 years and nearly 40 years respectively, were told this week that "the school no longer had a position available for them," 11Alive reported.

While Ragsdale did not detail the nature of the firings, WSB-TV reported the coaches - who were also schoolteachers - claimed to be blindsided after their contracts were not renewed. The surprise came at a school where the Gywnn-McClure Gymnasium was named in their honor, WSB-TV reported.

“It was the way in which it was done, and I felt hurt," McClure told WSB-TV. "I felt betrayed.”

The coaches have rallied the support of students, teachers and others, which Ragsdale deemed a rarity.

“Regarding the Campbell community, in the over three decades in education, I have rarely seen the amount of love and support for a coach, as I have from the Campbell community for both coaches McClure and Gwynn," Ragsdale said.

"If the number of former players, current students, fellow teachers and family members who have supported you is any indication, coach McClure and Gwynn are remarkable coaches. I am not on the court or in the classroom with either of these men, but I do know they deserve our gratitude and respect for all they've given to not only the Campbell and Cobb community for more than three decades ... To the extent I can, I will report on that investigation at its conclusion, along with any actions we will be taking. As a district, we hold ourselves to a higher standard than the way this was handled, and I look forward to bringing an update soon."

Ragsdale did not detail a timeline for the investigation.

According to the CBS Sports' MaxPreps, the Campbell Spartans led a 15-11 overall basketball season for 2024-25. They went 8-6 in AAAAAA Region 3, placing third after McEachern and Pebblebrook schools.