When the votes were tallied for the Region 5-AAAA’s top athletic director, a Troup County School System honoree was named – Coach Mike Pauley from LaGrange High School. This is the second year in a row for a TCSS athletic director to win as Troup High’s Robert Schweizer was chosen for the honor last school year.

To be named the Region 5-AAAA Athletic Director of the Year, Pauley submitted a biography when the top two AD’s were chosen. After that submission, a group of Pauley’s peers chose him as the winner. Pauley, who is a graduation coach and department chair for Physical Education at LaGrange High, has been leading teams to victory since 1988; first as a graduate assistant for the Auburn Lady Tigers and later at LaGrange High School. He has been the LHS Athletic Director since June 2015.

With 27 total coaching seasons under his belt, he says this win is not all about him, “I am grateful my peers viewed my leadership here at LHS and amongst our region as tops. This distinction is affirmation that our leadership team is focused on positive areas,” he said.

The same success he sees on the field is what he envisions for his students whether they are playing or not. Pauley stated, “Our head coaches are constantly challenging our student-athletes in their leadership skills, skill development techniques, and growth as an academic student and student of their respective sport. Because of these opportunities, our students practice, perform and progress.”

As a storied basketball head coach with a track record of over 400 combined boys and girls varsity wins, Pauley still finds time to serve as youth director at Loyd Presbyterian Church, play tennis, train at Crossfit LaGrange, and enjoy family time with his wife, Lynn Loyd and their three children, Jake, Emily, and Annie