THE COMMUNITY of Manchester has always supported its high school sports teams, and co-athletic director Brad Costello is no exception. With three positions at Coffee County Central High School (CCCHS), including math teacher, golf coach, and co-athletic director, Costello spends most of his time working with students, especially in sports. Co-athletic director Brandon McWhorter said their position isn’t an average 8-5 job.
“We put a lot of time in,” McWhorter said. “During the summer, we spend time on getting ready for the new year, figuring out what we can do differently, and just making sure that our student-athletes are taken care of the best they can be.”
Costello has taught math at CCCHS since 2005 and has coached much of that time. In 2021, he was named co-athletic director along with McWhorter, who said Costello’s success comes from his enthusiasm for athletics and his ability to connect with the students.
“He has a love for the sports, and he has a love for the game of golf,” McWhorter said. “Even as a teacher, he has a good rapport with those students.”
That rapport comes from his commitment to instruction and care for the students, CCCHS Principal Paul Parsley said.
“He is a very detail-oriented person, and it shows through as he works with students in both math and golf,” Parsley said. “I have witnessed repeatedly through the years that the relationships that coach Costello creates with students tend to carry on beyond high school.”
Costello began teaching golf the same year he moved back to Manchester. While he took a break from coaching when his kids were young, he returned to coach, as his son is now part of the team. Often minor sports at high schools get coaches who aren’t familiar with the sport, Costello said, so he enjoys giving good instruction to those on the team.
“Those types of sports sometimes end up getting a coach who can make a schedule and maybe even just be a warm body at practice,” Costello said. “It doesn’t have the same draw from a coaching standpoint as asoftball, football, baseball, or basketball position. Golf is more of a minor sport, so I knew that I would be able to actually coach and give good instruction to all of the guys and girls who would make the team.”
The competition has always been what drew Costello to love athletics. While in high school in Coffee County, he played basketball, soccer, and golf. He went on to play golf in college.
“If there’s something that you can try to do to make a game of something, that’s always been enjoyable for me,” Costello said. “From a student’s standpoint, I’ve always enjoyed sports because it is another outlet that allows kids to remain connected to the school and to the community.”
Coffee County is a great place for that, as the community is very involved in student sports. Costello said he is amazed by the number of people who recognize him because of his role as athletic director, and the number of people who are willing to donate time and money to the programs.
“‘I’ve always known just living in this small community the connection that the community has with athletics here at the high school,” Costello said. “This community longs to be behind these kids and these athletic programs. You get a sense that when these programs are successful, the community loves being a part of that.”
“Manchester is special in that way,” Costello said.
“You don’t have that same kind of connection, I don’t think, in a bigger city like we have here. The community just really gets behind these kids and wants to see them succeed,” Costello said. “It’s a pretty special community that we live in, really.”
While he would like to be an assistant principal one day, Costello plans on being an athletic director for a while and doesn’t plan on going elsewhere.
“I’m kind of past my desire to be in another community or another school system, other than Coffee County or Manchester City Schools,” Costello said. “This is my home. This is where I want to be as long as they’ll have me.” GN
