Football season is just around the corner, and we have the perfect way to get ready! An ALL STAR football lineup of legendary Roswell coaches is taking the stage for an unforgettable event. With over 200 years of collective coaching and teaching experience, these hometown heroes will be bringing laughter, wisdom, and behind-the-scenes stories to life. From rapid fire questions (“Worst ref call?” anyone?) to deep reflections on legacy, leadership, community, and culture, the Roswell Coaches Panel promises surprises, laughs, and powerful insights.

Featuring Roswell High’s own Coach McFarlin, Coach Coen, Coach Poulos, Coach Smith, and Coach Manus, moderated by current RHS football Coach JT Thompson. Club President and 1994 RHS grad, Trummie Lee Patrick III, is thrilled to welcome you…so invite your friends and let’s pack the house!  Join us Thursday, July 31st from Noon–1:30 PM at Roswell Area Park’s CAB Building for this can't-miss celebration, hosted by the Roswell Rotary Club. $20 for visitors includes admission and the best fried chicken in town. 

Coach Tim McFarlin

Coach Tim McFarlin’s legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of Georgia high school football. Starting his career at Roswell High in 1981, he poured his heart into not just football, but multiple sports including basketball, baseball, track, and golf. When he stepped into the Head Football Coach role in 1998, he turned Roswell’s program into a powerhouse, capturing the 5A State Championship in 2006 and earning Coach of the Year honors. His passion and perseverance laid the groundwork for a coaching journey that would span over four decades and inspire countless athletes and fellow coaches.

From 2011 to 2020, Coach McFarlin elevated Blessed Trinity’s football program to new heights, leading the Titans to three consecutive State Championships, 2017, 2018 and 2019 an extraordinary feat matched by only a handful of coaches in Georgia history. He wrapped up his coaching career with Fellowship Christian, where he added two region titles to his name. With an overall head coaching record of 216-60-2 and 11 region titles, McFarlin earned his place as the winningest coach in North Fulton County history. Coach McFarlin was inducted into the Roswell High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2024 in honor of his 30 years of coaching and “always be about doing all the right things that lead to a meaningful life”.

Now in his third season as Georgia Tech’s Director of High School Relations, Coach McFarlin continues to impact the game he loves, fostering relationships across the state. A founding member of the Georgia Football Coaches Association and long-time member of the Roswell Rotary Club for 30 years, Tim’s influence stretches far beyond the field.

 Coach John Coen

 Coach John Coen’s relationship with Roswell High School spanned six remarkable decades, making him a cornerstone of the school’s legacy. As a student athlete from 1967 to 1972, he earned seven varsity letters across football, baseball, and wrestling, and was an integral part of multiple state championship teams. His dedication to sports and academics continued after playing football in college, and he returned to Roswell in 1977 and served in multiple roles, teacher, coach, administrator, and athletic director, until his retirement in 2017.

During his coaching career, Coen left a lasting mark on Roswell athletics. He led the baseball program for 20 years, winning the 3A State Championship in 1986 and recording more than 265 career wins. His mentorship helped more than 40 players reach the collegiate level and several assistants achieve coaching success of their own. In football, he coached for four decades and contributed to championship-level teams, including the 2006 State 5A Champions and back-to-back state runner-up squads in 2015 and 2016. His role also extended to the wrestling program, where he coached alongside Hall of Fame member Coach Wayne Smith.

Beyond wins and titles, Coach Coen's greatest contribution may be his unwavering commitment to the spirit of Roswell High. As an educator in Political Science, Law, and Economics, and sponsor of the Model UN team, he shaped students far beyond the field. Inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame in 2024 and the Roswell High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Coach Coen embodied the motto he lived by: “Once a Hornet, always a Hornet.” His legacy is one of excellence, mentorship, and heart.

 Coach Ray Manus

Coach Ray Manus, Roswell High Hall of Fame inductee, is a name that resonates deeply within the Roswell High School community, having devoted over four decades to shaping young athletes and building championship programs. From 1966 to 2007, Coach Manus poured his energy and heart into Roswell athletics, becoming Head Football Coach in 1975 and leading the program for 23 seasons. With a career record of 141-101-1, he guided the Hornets to victories in all three of their State Championship seasons, 1968, 1970, and the milestone 2006 title in the state’s highest classification, Class AAAAA. He also helped secure seven Region Championships, a testament to his leadership through eras of tremendous growth and competition.

But Coach Manus’s impact extended far beyond the football field. As Head Coach of Girls Basketball, he steered his teams to two State Tournament appearances in the early ’70s, and as Boys Golf Coach, led Roswell to a Class AAAA State Championship in 1990 and two consecutive runner-up finishes in 1992 and 1993, along with mentoring three Individual State Champions. His dedication earned him selection as an All-Star Coach three times in Georgia’s prestigious North vs. South All-Star Football games. Then, as Roswell High’s first Athletic Director from 1990 to 1999, he oversaw a thriving sports program and was named the Georgia State Athletic Director of the Year in 1994-95, a reflection of his tireless commitment to excellence.

To honor his extraordinary contributions, the Fulton County Board of Education named the school’s stadium “Ray Manus Stadium” in 1994, a gesture that captures his legacy in brick and mortar. Coach Manus didn’t just build winning teams; he built character, traditions, and a lasting spirit of community that still echoes through the halls and fields of Roswell High.

 Coach Pete Poulos

 Coach Pete Poulos is a name synonymous with dedication, toughness, and heart in the Roswell High School community. Beginning his coaching career in the mid-1960s in Atlanta, he arrived at Roswell in 1970 and immediately became an integral figure across football, basketball, and baseball programs. Named Defensive Coordinator in 1975, he held that position for three decades, coaching in 448 games and helping guide the Hornets to two State Championships (1970, 2006), seven Region titles, and developing future NFL and Super Bowl champions. Even after stepping down, Poulos continued mentoring student-athletes until 2014, marking 45 total years of coaching service.

His coaching resume is not just defined by wins, but by influence. Across 29 years in JV basketball, his teams collected six North Fulton Championships and helped shape generations of young athletes. On the baseball diamond, he contributed to a state title in 1971 and led the team to sub-region championships as head coach. Most remarkably, Coach Poulos helped pave the way for future MLB stars Mike Ramsey and Tony Phillips. In total, he coached more than 1,400 games in three sports while also guiding Roswell’s Social Studies Department as Chair from 1978 to 2000, balancing leadership in athletics and academics.

Coach Poulos’s legacy was officially etched into the landscape of Roswell High when the practice field next to Ray Manus Stadium was named in his honor in 2014. The following year, the City of Roswell proclaimed April 19 as “Ray Manus and Pete Poulos Day,” celebrating two of the school’s greatest contributors. Coach Poulos is a Roswell High Hall of Fame member. Known for his hard-nosed coaching style and ability to forge meaningful relationships with students, Pete Poulos remains a treasured figure. His mentorship, discipline, and accountability helped define what it means to be a Hornet.

 Coach Wayne Smith

Coach Wayne Smith’s remarkable legacy at Roswell High School spans decades of commitment, leadership, and mentorship across multiple sports. A native of Alpharetta, he began his career in Fulton County schools in 1975 and has since accumulated over 46 years of service. At Roswell, he coached football for 32 years, primarily the offensive line and special teams leading the Hornets to 17 playoff seasons and a celebrated State Championship in 2006. His 31-year tenure as head wrestling coach produced 281 dual meet victories, seven county championships, nine runner-up finishes, and 20 state placers including two GHSA individual champions. Smith earned both the Gene Collier Memorial Award and the Gene Collins Award for his exceptional contributions to Georgia wrestling.  Coach Wayne Smith was inducted in 2023 to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award.  

Beyond the mat and gridiron, Coach Smith made a lasting impact on Roswell’s track program, serving as head coach for boys’ track from 1977 to 1981 and girls’ track from 1981 to 2006. His leadership brought home six Fulton County titles and helped 32 girls qualify for state-level competition, including a state champion and multiple top three finishes. As Roswell’s Associate Athletic Director from 2003 to 2010, he oversaw various programs and led the wrestling team to a regional championship in 1985 and runner-up in 1986. He also organized summer wrestling camps for the Roswell Schools Foundation for 12 years and was recognized as Region Coach of the Year in 1985 before being inducted into Roswell High’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.

Today, Coach Smith continues to shape young lives as Associate Athletic Director at Cambridge High School in Milton, GA, a role he has held since 2012.

 Coach JT Thompson

Our moderator for this panel, Jonathan “JT” Thompson has recently embarked on his tenure as Roswell High School’s new head football coach, bringing dynamic energy and a proven track record to the Hornets' sideline. Thompson joins the program after serving as offensive coordinator at powerhouse Lee County from 2019 to 2024, where he helped engineer one of the most explosive offenses in Georgia history. Under his leadership, the team averaged over 53 points per game in 2024 and racked up 745 total points, ranking seventh all-time in state history. His success caught the attention of Roswell Athletic Director Ben Sutter, who cited Thompson’s visionary leadership and holistic approach as key reasons for his selection.

Coach Thompson’s arrival in February sparked an immediate shift in the program’s training culture, introducing a high-efficiency, fast-paced regimen that energized spring practices. Known for his no-huddle offensive style, Thompson is poised to spotlight Roswell’s talented and skilled players in what promises to be a thrilling 2025 season. Thompson has expressed deep appreciation for joining a community that values both football excellence and strong family roots, calling Roswell “a special place” for his personal and professional growth” according to Score Atlanta. "Daily Dive: Roswell, South Forsyth Announce New Head Coach Hires." Score Atlanta, 24 Jan. 2025, www.scoreatl.com/stories/daily-dive-roswell-south-forsyth-announce-new-head-coach-hires/.

With heartfelt endorsements from peers like Lee County’s Dean Fabrizio, who called the hire a “grand slam,” and the enthusiastic embrace of Roswell’s staff and student-athletes, Coach Thompson is ready to lead the Hornets into a bold new chapter.