In The Corner With Coach Atwood: Jay Lineberry Retires
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When the 2023-24 school year rolls around there will be a gigantic shift taking place at Central Davidson High School. That's when the realization will hit that long-time social studies teacher and head wrestling coach, Jay Lineberry, is no longer serving the students at this fine school. After 36 years, Coach Lineberry is retiring from both teaching and coaching.
Mr. Lineberry began his teaching and coaching career at Central in the 1987-88 school year. Prior to that, he worked in private business and served as head wrestling coach at Elon University, where he was also a standout wrestler (2-time NAIA All-American).
At Central, Lineberry has served in nearly every capacity a teacher and coach can serve. As a teacher, he taught every course offered in the social studies department, and for the past two decades he has served as both the Social Studies Department Chair and as the Assistant Athletic Director.
Wrestling wasn’t the only sport he coached. Other sports include Football (33 years), baseball (17), girls soccer (12), Track and field (5), and cross country (1).
But wrestling is his claim to fame. Not just as an athlete, but as a coach. For 32 years he was the head coach for the Spartans. During that time, he coached 7 state champion wrestlers, 6 state championship runner-up wrestlers, and his teams won 3 conference championships, 4 conference tournament championships, and was the 1991 NCHSAA State Dual Team 3A Runners-up.
In addition to those numbers, he coached 95 individual state tournament qualifiers, 155 All-Conference wrestlers, and finished in the top 5 state tournament team standings several times.
Lineberry has received four Hall of Fame inductions. The Southern Alamance High School Hall of Fame (2011), Elon University Hall of Fame (1994), Davidson County Hall of Fame (2015), and the North Carolina chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2015).
The truest compliment for both Lineberry and Central Davidson is the 36 years of service provided. It is very rare to see a teacher and/or coach remain with the same school their entire career. When asked about this Lineberry responded "Central has been a great place to work. I truly picked the best place for me to start and end my career."
Here are some reactions to Coach Lineberry retiring:
Former state champion, Jesse Johnson (2011), stated “He was an amazing coach and teacher who always poured his heart and soul into shaping his athletes into good young men. He was a father figure and pushed his wrestlers to reach their potential. I’m honored and grateful that he was my coach.”
New Spartan head wrestling coach, Jake Smith, stated “Coach Lineberry is, and was, a teacher, coach, mentor, and father figure to many young student athletes. I am happy to have had the chance to wrestle and coach under such a legendary name in the sport of wrestling.”
Former assistant coach and longtime Glenn High wrestling coach and current Athletic Director, Joe McCormick added “Jay taught me more about wrestling and coaching wrestling in 1 year than I learned in the 24 years since then. Just a tremendous all-around coach and person.”
As for the future, Coach Lineberry intends to work with a youth wrestling club and will be seeking a teaching position somewhere. Most likely in a private school. He summed it up quick “I love teaching!”
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Gigantic shift indeed! Congratulations Jay Lineberry. Job well done!