Lake Oconee Academy head baseball coach Jeremy Donaldson is trading in his cleats and uniform for a new role.
He recently became a father and has decided to step down from his position as the Titans’ head coach effective immediately.
Donaldson will still teach at Lake Oconee Academy, although he will now be a full-time dad in his spare time.
“It will feel good to step away, as far as the time I will have with my family, but I am going to miss coaching these kids,” he said. “The parents and coaches at LOA have also been great.”
Donaldson started coaching at LOA six years ago when the program was just starting. He helped build the program from its inception and set it up for success in the immediate future.
Donaldson said one memory that he will remember was the program’s first-ever playoff appearance last season.
“The 2021 team was a special group,” he stated. “They competed hard. They weren’t the most talented team, but they were on a grind to make the playoffs for the first time.”
Overall, for Donaldson, it was all about watching the program grow and develop over the last six years
“When I first got here, we were winning about two games a season,” Donaldson said. “After that, it improved greatly into winning more and competing for the state playoffs. There’s been a lot of growth in the program over the last few years. I think it only gets better.”
Despite compiling a 42-80 overall record, Donaldson helped the Titans reach new heights each year. In his first three years, the Titans upped their total win count each season.
Lake Oconee Academy was 4-7 overall and 2-2 in the region when the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended the 2020 season. The Titans were primed for success before the stoppage of play.
In 2021, the Titans set a record for most overall (13) and region (11) wins in a single season. Plus, that’s the squad that made the program’s first postseason appearance.
Donaldson is excited to watch the baseball team at LOA continue to grow.
“They are set up for success,” he said. “I am happy knowing that I left the program in good hands.”