GCS Athletic Director Recognized for Exemplary Service

Guilford County Schools (GCS) Athletic Director Leigh Hebbard received the Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award by the North Carolina High School Athletics Association. The award recognizes employees with at least 10 years of experience in education and athletics who are still active in the field and have regularly gone "above and beyond" the call of duty at both the local and the state level.

Hebbard began his career in education in 1987 as a teacher and athletic trainer at Andrews High and moved to a similar role at Eastern High beginning in 1993. The following year he became athletic director for Eastern, serving in the position until 2006 when he filled a vacancy of assistant principal. He moved to his current position as the district’s Director of Athletics and Drivers' Education. He has also served as director for the NCHSAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament for several years.

“Leigh continues to exceed expectations as he works to ensure that all athletics in the district are exemplary,” said Brenda Elliott, director of student services. “He understands that our athletics are students first and he embraces the opportunities to use athletic participation as a way of teaching character and building resiliency and a lifelong commitment to one's personal best.”

Hebbard graduated from East Carolina in 1986 with a degree in health and physical education. While at ECU, he completed the sports medicine curriculum and his experiences included an internship with the New York Giants in the summer of 1985.