File PhotoGeorgia Christian's then-defensive coordinator J.T. Brown talks to his players during a summer workout last season. Brown has been named as the team's new head coach.

VALDOSTA, Ga. — J.T. Brown has been with the revitalized Georgia Christian football program since the first brick, which formed the school’s junior varsity program in 2013.

The Generals unlocked the football program, a lock that had been fastened for 50 years.

,, who has served as defensive coordinator for three years, will continue constructing the varsity program as the head coach.

“I love the school, I love coaching those young men and I like the guys that we have on the coaching staff,” Brown said. “We’re all very good friends.

“It’s just a good place to be.”

When former head coach and athletic director Kent Copeland decided to resign for a position with the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association (GICAA) earlier this year, Brown was the logical choice to continue leading the growing program.

“(Brown) connects well with the kids, he’s a good role model for them and he has experience playing at the college level,” school president Dr. Brad Lawson said. “But it’s more than just having a connection with the kids, it’s also about having a good relationship with the other coaches.

“He has a lot of knowledge of the game and he works well with those other coaches. Not only did he have Kent’s blessing, but the blessings of the other coaches as well.”

Stepping into his first head coaching position, Brown said Tony Long will take his former position as defensive coordinator with Donald Dawkins serving as the assistant defensive coordinator. Shaun Eilders will remain as the team’s offensive coordinator and Willis Colson will be the assistant offensive coordinator. Ryan Warren will continue working as the special teams coordinator.

With the staff in place, Brown is ready for a new, fun season coaching the kids.

“To see some of those kids who will be juniors and seniors this year and how far they’ve come is just amazing,” Brown said. “You’re talking about going from practically no varsity experience to having some pretty good ball players.

“That’s what makes coaching so fun, watching the kids develop and the relationships they build through the sweat, the heat and the adversity. It’s what makes coaching worth it.”

Of course, his new title comes with new responsibilities, but Brown said he’s looking forward to becoming more vocal in the deciding the direction of the program and its philosophy.

“It’s kind of a challenge because you go from just managing just one portion of the game to managing all of it,” he said.

Brown’s familiarity with the team’s players and coaches will surely make his transition smoother.

“It seems like when you can hire within the program, it makes the change a little more seamless,” he said.

The Generals will maintain the same offensive and defensive styles that have launched them into back-to-back deep playoff runs. Although injuries decimated the team’s already small numbers last season, the Generals made it to the GISA’s quarterfinal round and finished 3-9.

Georgia Christian went 8-4 in the varsity’s inaugural 2014 season and made it to the semifinal round of the playoffs.