Varsity Track & Field
1 Cor. 9:24-25 says “Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Now everyone who competes exercises self control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.” We attempt to use the sport of track and field to teach our young men and women how to run the race of the Christian life, including lessons of perseverance, discipline, and how to handle joy and disappointment. Our Girls and Boys track teams have combined to win 4 District titles in the last 6 years, including 6 State titles in hurdles and one in Triple Jump.
NEWS
CALENDAR
No events found.
Tim Latham
Head Cross Country & Head Track and Field Coach
Tim Latham
Head Cross Country & Head Track and Field Coach
Coach Latham came to GCS in 2019 as a volunteer Cross Country coach. Tim and his wife, Debbie, moved back to his home state of Texas in January 2019 after retiring from a successful career (2017) in San Diego as a CC/T&F Head Coach for 40+ years. He served as Athletic Director at Sweetwater High School for 20+ years. He was a widely recognized expert in management and administration of team sports, managing/directing over 400 meets at every level during the course of his career. In early retirement he was an Assistant Cross Country Coach at San Diego City College and an Athletics Mentor for the Sweetwater Union High School District. Coach Latham has also been one of the facilitators of Nike Footlocker Nationals in San Diego for over 25+ years and still serves in that role.
Coach Latham has his Master’s degree from Baylor University and holds two Bachelor degrees from Howard Payne University.
Highlights of Coach Latham’s career include Coach of the Year 15 times; National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Section VII (comprised of the states of Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah and California) Boys Track Coach of the Year; California CIF Model Coach of the Year; High School Sports Association of San Diego Athletic Director Award; Award of Merit form the San Diego Starters Association, and awarded the National City, CA, Mayor Award. Coach Latham’s biggest honor was Induction into the San Diego Hall of Champions – San Diego County “High School Coaching Legends” Hall of Fame in November of 2018.
Tim grew up in Houston where his dad was the Pastor of Sharpstown Baptist Church for many years and he is pleased to be back in Texas near family and involved again in CC/T&F at GCS. Debbie and Tim attend Green Acres Baptist Church and have a son, daughter-in-law and 4
beloved grandchildren in Florida.
Norm Thompson
Science & Head Track and Field Coach
Norm Thompson
Science & Head Track and Field Coach
B.S., Stephen F. Austin State University
Norman has worked as a high school teacher and coach since 1981 at Grace, Seagoville, Crandall, DeSoto, and Lufkin. He has been with GCS since 2010 as a physics teacher, track and football coach. He currently is the Head Girl’s and Boy’s Track coach for Grace and assistant in football. Norman received his bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin. He and his wife, Mary Ann, also a Stephen F. Austin graduate, have three children and three grandchildren. Their daughter Leigh Ann and her husband Michael Hyde are Texas A&M graduates and are the parents of Nathan. Their daughter Kellie and her husband Daniel are East Texas Baptist graduates and are the parents of Annabelle and Emma. Their son James is a graduate of Texas A&M and lives in Seattle. Norman likes to build things and go on mountain hikes in the summer. He has been on many mission trips, both nationally and internationally. Norman and Mary Ann are both active at First Baptist Church in Lindale.
Kendall Fox
Physical Education, Football & Track and Field Coach
Kendall Fox
Physical Education, Football & Track and Field Coach
B.S., University of Texas, Tyler
Kendall has worked in the middle school since 2010 at Grace Community School. He has taught sixth grade P.E and coached high school baseball and football during his time at the school. Kendall has received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Tyler. He is happily married to Emily Fox and they both work with the student ministry at Grace Community Church.
Jessica Hicks
Academic Success Center & Cross Country Coach
Jessica Hicks
Academic Success Center & Cross Country Coach
B.A., Cedarville University
Jessica has been a part of the upper campus Academic Success Center since 2021. She received her bachelor’s degree from Cedarville University in Ohio. Jessica has previous teaching experience which includes years teaching second and third grade, as well as homeschooling her four children for 13 years. Her oldest son, Payton, graduated from high school, and her other three children, Colby, Caleb, and Olivia attend Grace Community School. Jessica and her husband, Steve, attend Grace Community Church, Old Jacksonville Campus along with their children. She loves to travel, camp, hike, run, and just enjoys the great outdoors.
John Keeling
History, Economic, Government, Cross Country & Track and Field Coach
John Keeling
History, Economic, Government, Cross Country & Track and Field Coach
B.S., Texas A&M University
John has worked as a high school teacher from 1996 to 2000 in the Houston public school system and in the local public school system from 2000 to 2012. He has been at Grace since 2012 coaching speech and debate, and teaching Modern World History, US History, US Government, and Economics. He received his B.S. in Political Science from Texas A&M University. John and his wife, Bonita (Bo), have two daughters at Grace, Ela and Madeline. John and his family are members of First Baptist Church Tyler (South Campus) where John teaches an adult Sunday school class and Bo works with the eighth and ninth grade girls. John is a self-described nerd who loves all things political, science fiction, the 80’s, and Star Wars, He also loves running and hiking with his family.
Mike Maddox
History, Football & Track and Field Coach
Mike Maddox
History, Football & Track and Field Coach
B.A., Texas A&M University
Coach Mike Maddox returned to the Grace Community School family in spring 2022 to work with the track athletes. He is an experienced track and football coach, and he previously served as the head varsity football coach at Grace Community School from 2006 to 2017. So naturally, he has signed on to be the varsity offensive coordinator for the Grace Cougar Football Program. His coaching philosophy comes from 2 Timothy 4:2.
He believes in relating to students on and off the field, and that winning will take care of itself through a positive program. Coach Maddox also believes athletes should act right, do right, and compete with all their hearts. Because of this, athletics is fun for them and everyone involved.
Coach Maddox has also served as head coach at Alba-Golden and Union Groce. He has been recognized for his leadership and accomplishment: he is a six-time Coach of the Year, served as the Offensive Coordinator for the State Champion Gilmer Buckeyes, featured in the Texas High School Coaches Association, Greater East Texas Track and Field Coach of the Year, coached six All-State Quarterbacks and eight State Champion Hurdlers, led Grace Cougars to an 83-37 record with eight straight playoff appearances, NCSAA National Coach of the Year, and Best Preps East Texas Athletic Director of the Year while at Lindale (5A) School.
Andrew Plentl
Track and Field Coach
Andrew Plentl
Track and Field Coach
Alison Radcliffe
Science
Alison Radcliffe
Science
B.S., Drake University
Alison graduated from Drake University with an All Science Secondary Education degree. She attends Grace Community Church on Old Jacksonville with her husband, Ric, who also teaches at GCS. She has taught and coached at the middle school level since 2013.
Ric Radcliffe
History, Football & Track and Field Coach
Ric Radcliffe
History, Football & Track and Field Coach
B.A., Wheaton College
Ric has been teaching history at the high school level since 2012, and has been with Grace Community School since 2015. He received his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and History/Social Sciences with an endorsement in Math from Wheaton College, where he also had the privilege to play college football. He has been married to Mrs. Radcliffe since the summer of 2013. She, too, is currently working at Grace Community School in the middle school as the eighth grade math teacher. Ric also serves as a football coach on both the varsity and junior varsity levels, as well as one of the high school track and field coaches.
Middle School Track & Field
1 Cor. 9:24-25 says “Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Now everyone who competes exercises self control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.” We attempt to use the sport of track and field to teach our young men and women how to run the race of the Christian life, including lessons of perseverance, discipline, and how to handle joy and disappointment. Our Girls and Boys track teams have combined to win 4 District titles in the last 6 years, including 6 State titles in hurdles and one in Triple Jump.
NEWS
CALENDAR
No events found.
Tracy Holcomb
Bible, Basketball, Cross Country, & Track and Field Coach
Tracy Holcomb
Bible, Basketball, Cross Country, & Track and Field Coach
M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Tracy has worked as a middle school and high school teacher since 2007 at Santa Fe Middle School, Bay Area Christian School, and Grace Community School since 2014. He has taught 8th grade US history, been an assistant coach for boys varsity basketball, and has coached cross country and track. Tracy received his bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University and his master’s degree in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tracy and his wife, Debra, have two children. His son, Joshua, is a graduate of Boyce College in Louisville, KY, and lives and works there. Hannah, his daughter, is a 2017 graduate of Grace and currently lives in Louisville, KY, with her husband, Dominic D’Ettorre, and they actively serve their local church. Tracy also serves as the bi-vocational Pastor at Westwood Baptist Church in Tyler, TX.
Mike Maddox
History, Football & Track and Field Coach
Mike Maddox
History, Football & Track and Field Coach
B.A., Texas A&M University
Coach Mike Maddox returned to the Grace Community School family in spring 2022 to work with the track athletes. He is an experienced track and football coach, and he previously served as the head varsity football coach at Grace Community School from 2006 to 2017. So naturally, he has signed on to be the varsity offensive coordinator for the Grace Cougar Football Program. His coaching philosophy comes from 2 Timothy 4:2.
He believes in relating to students on and off the field, and that winning will take care of itself through a positive program. Coach Maddox also believes athletes should act right, do right, and compete with all their hearts. Because of this, athletics is fun for them and everyone involved.
Coach Maddox has also served as head coach at Alba-Golden and Union Groce. He has been recognized for his leadership and accomplishment: he is a six-time Coach of the Year, served as the Offensive Coordinator for the State Champion Gilmer Buckeyes, featured in the Texas High School Coaches Association, Greater East Texas Track and Field Coach of the Year, coached six All-State Quarterbacks and eight State Champion Hurdlers, led Grace Cougars to an 83-37 record with eight straight playoff appearances, NCSAA National Coach of the Year, and Best Preps East Texas Athletic Director of the Year while at Lindale (5A) School.
Brad Shaw
Track & Field Coach
Brad Shaw
Track & Field Coach