The GCAC begins its 2017-18 season Monday with featured speaker Ron Baynes. The Gulf Coast Athletic Club guest speaker schedule continues on Sept. 11 with Chris Childers of Sirius XM Radio Sports. The club will also be recognized Friday night at the Dolphins’ home opener along with other members of the inaugural GSHS Athletic Hall of Fame class.
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GCAthleticClub.com
GULF SHORES — The GCAC begins its 2017-18 season Monday (Aug. 28) with featured speaker Ron Baynes. The Gulf Coast Athletic Club guest speaker schedule continues on Sept. 11 with Chris Childers of Sirius XM Radio Sports. The club will also be recognized Friday night at the Dolphins’ home opener along with other members of the inaugural GSHS Athletic Hall of Fame class.
GCAC Meeting Dates 2017
Date (all Mondays) Speaker Comments
Aug. 28 Ron Baynes SEC and NFL Official
Sept 11 Chris Childers Sirius XM Radio Sports
Sept. 25 Jeff Bower Southern Miss Player and Coach
Oct. 9 Bill Battle Alabama Ex-Athletic Director
Oct. 23 TBD
Nov.6 Tommy Ford Alabama Assistant AD
Nov. 20 Al Del Greco AU/NFL Place Kicker
Jan 22, 2018 TBD
For more information, visit: GCAthleticClub.com.
Also in club business.
The club approved a $2,520 donation to Gulf Shores Middle School for basketball uniforms. Will be presenting a check to coach Matt Blake (the new high school AD and head football coach) on Monday night (Aug. 28).
Gulf Shores High School has created a Sports Hall of Fame and the initial inductees will be announced Friday (Sept.1) at the first varsity football game. Inductees include previous players and coaches and other organizations that have been instrumental in helping the Sports programs.
The Gulf Shores Athletic Club, because of its original and ongoing financial support of the sports programs at GSHS and GSMS will be an inductee on Sept. 1.
About featured speaker Ron Baynes, Auburn multi-sport athlete, H.S. coach and later SEC and NFL Official:
Ronnie Baynes was born in Talladega and graduated from Talladega High School. He turned down a pro baseball offer to sign a football scholarship to Auburn.
He played four years of football for the Tigers as a freshman and three year varsity letterman. He was an All SEC 2nd team defensive end. Also played two years as starter on baseball team that won SEC East championship.
He played in 1965 Blue-Gray game and signed a pro football contract with Dallas. A knee injury ended his pro career and he began coaching high school and later officiating in the SEC and NFL.
Coaching
1. Coached 35 years at Various high schools in Alabama.
2. Coached five state baseball championships high-school teams.
3. Last two years of coaching was at Central Alabama Community College. His (2001) team won the State Junior college championship, Southeastern region and finished third in the JUCO College World Series in Grand Junction Colorado.
Officiating
1. Began officiating high school football in 1971 as a sideline to coaching.
2. Accepted into the SEC where officiated for the next 13 years.
3. Worked seven bowl games including college national championship between Oklahoma and Washington in the Orange Bowl.
4. Accepted into NFL in 1987. Officiated on the field for 14 years. Worked two Super Bowls, the Pro Bowl, five NFC-AFC championships and 11 playoff games.
5. In 2001 gave up coaching and on the field officiating to go to NYC and accept a position as Supervisor of NFL officials. Accepted the position as Director of Scouting, Recruiting and Training of potential officials. Held that position until retirement in 2015.
6. Currently working for the SEC and CUSA as a trainer and evaluator of their officials.
Awards, Honors
1. Selected to Alabama Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame
2. Selected to Alabama High School Coaches Hall of Fame
3. Selected to Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
4. Awarded the Art McNally award given by the NFL to the official that has contributed to officiating in a positive manner on and off the field.
About Gulf Coast Athletic Club (GCAC)
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club (GCAC), located in Gulf Shores, is a civic organization that provides entertainment for members and raises money for our local high school athletics program, Gulf Shores High School. In addition to funding capital needs for the athletics department, GCAC (and its sister organization the Gulf Shores Athletics Club Foundation) funds two annual college scholarships to a male and female winner. We honor four male and four female athletes (and their parents) during the year and then select the two who most exemplifies the values of our community and the High School. We are proud that we have given away almost $40,000 in the last two years in capital and scholarships.
GCAC has 103 members representing 26 different schools, including a growing number of female members. The club meets every other Monday during football season (this year beginning on August 28) at Craft Farms Club House, and then returns for a final January meeting.
GCAC has had many distinguished speakers during the years including players, coaches, broadcasters, prognosticators, athletic directors, general managers and referees. Visit GCAthleticClub.com for more.