Carlos Strong is the new boys basketball coach for Oglethorpe County High School. The Board of Education met in special session Monday, June 17 to approve his hire. (Submitted Photo)
Former professional basketball player and UGA graduate Carlos Strong is Oglethorpe County High School’s next boys basketball coach.
Strong was officially named head coach on Monday at a Board of Education meeting.
“I think we have a lot of space to really build this program into a powerhouse with the school system behind us, with the community behind us,” Strong said. “And, of course, we have great athletes and great kids with great character. That’s important.”
A McDonald’s All-American in high school, Strong is from Athens and played basketball at UGA from 1992-1996. He ranks in the top 15 on Georgia’s all-time scoring and rebounding lists.
Following his collegiate career, he signed an undrafted NBA rookie contract with the Charlotte Hornets, spurring a 12-year professional journey that spanned three continents.
Strong’s experience at the highest level significantly strengthened his candidacy, co-athletic director Mike Holland said.
“A lot of kids want to go to the next level and play, and a lot of kids have dreams when they’re a little kid of playing in the NBA,” Holland said. “He can comment on all of that, whereas somebody that doesn’t have that experience can’t speak to that with as much credibility.”
Strong will replace the 2024 GHSA Region 5-A Division I Coach of the Year, Larry Brown, who resigned after leading OCHS to its first winning season since 2005.
“We want to have a winning season every year,” Strong said. “That’s our goal.”
Prior to his hire at OCHS, Strong served as the basketball program director for Oconee County Parks and Recreation. He also founded and directs Strong Basketball, a nonprofit organization focused on developing youth basketball throughout the state of Georgia.
“He’s very humble,” Holland said. “A lot of the time you have guys with really big egos, and I just feel like coach Strong is in it for the right reasons, in it for the kids.”
Strong will teach at the CrossRoads Alternative School located on the OCHS campus.
A meet-and-greet with Strong for players and parents is planned for Thursday, Holland said.
“I’m so excited to be part of this new process, this new step,” Strong said. “I’m glad they believed in me to be able to take the reins and push the program in the right direction.”