Coach Perry entered his first year as the head coach of the Gainesville Middle School Football Program in 2007 guiding the Red Elephants to a successful 4-2 season. The 2007 offense averaged scoring 28 points per contest under the tutelage of ace Offensive Coordinator Coach Sam Wallace. The offense scored over 40 plus points in half the games played. The Big Red defense held opponents to fewer than 15 points per game and held enemy offenses to 6 points in half the games played. Coach Perry and Coach Wallace tag team to form a character- building, fun, family environment that stresses the vital importance of academics, life lessons, and the fundamentals of football for the young men that accept the challenge of being a GMS football player. The 2008 season is approaching with great anticipation, and Perry has a very talented group of players returning for the upcoming 2008 season ready to tee it up on Bobby Gruhn Field at historic City Park Stadium.
Coach Perry is a true Red Elephant having attended Enota, Fair Street, Gainesville Middle School, and Gainesville High School where he was an honor graduate.
While at Gainesville High School, Perry was a four-year starter and letterman at linebacker (1998-2001) serving as a permanent team captain his senior season along with his twin brother Michael, Coach Josh Hester, and Jeff “Tug” Williams. Perry accumulated over 300 career tackles during his career, and he led his team in tackles his Junior and Senior seasons under Coach Steve Wilson who later returned again to Furman University serving as Defensive Coordinator and linebacker coach. Wilson is Perry’s mentor and the reason Perry went into coaching. Coach Perry was a recipient of the Parker Stillwell Award for leadership in both his Junior and Senior seasons. Also, Perry received the Defensive Award his Senior year.
Perry is a third generation Red Elephant with his grandfather, George Law, who anchored the offensive and defensive line on the 1945 and 1946 Gainesville teams. His uncle, Fletcher Law, was a stud defensive back for the Red Elephants from 1973-1976, tying the record for most interceptions in a season in 1976 and holding the record for most interception return yardage. Coach Perry’s twin brother, Michael, a highly skilled athlete, was also a captain and four year letterman playing multiple positions including running back, linebacker, defensive back, quarterback, and receiver. You name it; he played it. Perry’s younger brother, Lewis, was the starting Tight End on the 2005 Red Elephant team that advanced to the third round of the playoffs and won the Most Improved Player Award his Senior year after coming off of two very serious knee surgeries that forced him to miss his Junior season.
Coach Perry is a graduate of the University of Georgia earning a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education, and currently pursuing his master’s degree in Special Education from North Georgia College and State University.