Athletics

Coaching as a core strength

In Athletic Director Mike Emery — whose unparalleled experience includes more than three decades leading athletics at public schools, including a decade as director of Gwinnett County athletics, and 10 years at Paideia — student athletes could not have a stronger base of support. 

Emery strives to attend as many athletic events as his schedule allows — a commitment that makes for long, but to him, incredibly fulfilling days. Beyond the joy of watching a host of athletes deliver their best, he is reminded of the good that comes from setting a high bar, hiring only those instructors who are demonstrably effective both in the classroom and on the field. 

Paideia’s coaches care deeply about the athletes, embracing their key role in influencing the kinds of adults students become. Beyond teaching skills that make for success in a particular sport, they create a climate in which the desired intangibles take root: qualities such as teamwork, self-discipline, time management, commitment, sportsmanship, perseverance and sacrifice. It is for showcasing these virtues, not wins and losses, that our athletes ultimately wish to be known. 

As dedicated as the coaches are to their teams, they are first and foremost leaders who recognize that the school’s success is measured holistically — as the sum of the efforts of the faculty and staff, band and choral directors, club sports leaders and coaches.