Georgia Dugout Club names Jefferson coaching legend to Hall of Fame

Tommy Knight is fully aware of that fact as he left his position as the Jefferson High School’s baseball coach two years ago yet he is not able to get off the field. 
 
I didn’t miss a home game last year and probably saw three-fourths of the away games,” quizzed Knight reflecting on the year when he mentored new trainer Kyle Hardy, a Jefferson’s ex-footballer, and an assistant, before retiring in the summer of 2023. “Yes, I do like those kids a lot. , Some of them I have worked with for quite some time and I would like to follow them up until they complete… I always want to get out there… I always want to be active. ” 
 
The result of Knight’s passion as well as his dedication to baseball and his players were many winning seasons for the Dragons team. He coached Jefferson from 1994-96 & from 2005-22, & secured more than 580 victories. The Dragons own a state championship trophy from 2018, 10 region championships, played in 20 state playoffs, got through to the quarterfinals seven times and the finals thrice. 
 
All in all, 51 of Knight’s pupils were able to play college baseball, one of whom was right-handed pitcher Chris Beck, who actually made it to the Major Leagues. 
 
On wednesday this week, Georgia Dugout Club nominated him as one of the five that would be included in this year’s Hall of fame. Other 2024 inductees are John Coen- Roswell, Byron Orr – Forsyth Central, North Forsyth, South Forsyth, Jeff Segars – Loganville, Cliff Tankersley Irwin County. The induction ceremony is planned for December 6 this year at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta. 
 
Coach Dave McDonald, one of the guys who’s been in that organization for many, many years, called me and I thought, ‘Holy cow,’ said Knight, whose father, Godfrey Knight, coached for many years at Georgia Southwestern. ‘I likely embarrassed myself into silence because really, there wasn’t much to add to Thank you’. 
 
You know, it is an honor indeed for me to be named in that Hall of Fame, for you look at the list of the coaches that have been in this Hall of Fame and realize that there are some really incredible people in there, including some men that were active when my dad was coaching and some men that had something effect on my coaching career, not to mention some men that I have coached with In that Hall of Fame today, does 
 
The Sumter County, LaGrange College, and Southern Polytechnic (Kennesaw State) coach still accesses the Jefferson campus frequently to substitute teach half days and continue mowing the football, baseball, and practice field. 
 
That there is no better job for an old retired coach than to get to cut grass,” he said. 
 
When Knight retired two years ago after the season, Knight, who frankly said, ‘I have been on the team since I was five,’, maintain that what he would cherish most are friendships with the players and assistant coaches. 
 
He said that he greatly appreciated when he saw a number of those children come back out and tell him, “Thanks, Coach, I know that you shouted at me sometimes but it was for my own good. ” ”It was emotions like these provoking people to be the best that they could be and the relationships that I have fostered as a coach, the impact that I have had on young people, that is why coaching is important. ” 
 
He said ‘Nane you want to win every ball game and I’m a sore loser I always have been but the part I’ve appreciated the most are the relationships. He said ‘That’s what I’ll remember the most Those kids mean the world to me. ’ “