Petition to Request A Full Investigation by Cobb County into the Termination of Coach James Gwyn and Coach Randy McClure at Campbell High School. 

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Coach Randy McClure and Coach James Gwyn met, separately, with Principal Vanessa Watkins and Athletic Director James Thigpen for an allotment meeting. For clarity, each school district has an allotment of teaching positions it can have in any course of study. Allotment decisions would typically involve the department chair in addition to other administrators. In this case, the meeting was with the Principal and the Athletic Director alone. The outcome of these meetings was the termination of their coaching and teaching contracts. 

After a combined 1,200 career wins, 16 region titles and multiple state tournament appearances, this is a tragic and unceremonious end to two illustrious coaching careers. Their leadership extends from the basketball court to academics. In over 35 years of teaching experience at Campbell, Coach McClure has served as the Science Department Chair for over 20 years and awarded Teacher of the Year three times. Coach Gwyn has served as Campbell Administrator for 11 years, Summer School Site Principal for eight years and Business Department Chair for four years.

The abrupt manner in which Coach Gwyn and Coach McClure were dismissed mirrors the treatment one might expect of an adversary rather than two esteemed coaches. With only a tenuous justification based on allotment, they were denied the professional dignity of either resigning on their own terms or returning to the classroom full-time. Compounding this injustice, they were stripped of the opportunity to personally inform their coaching staff, athletes, parents, or the broader community of this heartbreaking news. Instead, they were excluded from these critical discussions while Athletic Director Thigpen conducted meetings and crafted a narrative in their absence. This approach not only suggests an unwarranted presumption of wrongdoing but also fosters a troubling perception of mistrust and disregard for their years of dedicated service. 

Coach Gwyn and Coach McClure, if nothing else, deserved the decency of proper notice and an honorable exit from a lifetime of service to Campbell High School. The callous removal of these dedicated, decorated and servant leaders is a loss of over 71 years of service for this community. Spartan friends and family who have supported Campbell Basketball for years, were robbed of the opportunity to celebrate and recognize the achievements of these coaches in a manner that aligns with the tireless service they provided for decades.  

We call upon the parents, students, alumni, supporters and fellow educators of Smyrna to stand with us and sign this petition asking the Cobb County School Board to halt this termination until a full and thorough review can be completed.

Furthermore, we urge you to contact the Cobb County School Board and the administration of Campbell High School to voice your concern, demand answers, and insist on fairness. 

Read More:

Marietta Daily Journal - JOHN BEDNAROWSKI: McClure, Gwyn Done Wrong by Campbell

Atlanta Journal Constitution - Campbell forces out basketball coaches 6 years after naming gym after them