Legendary high school football coach William "Buck" Godfrey, who led Southwest DeKalb from 1983 until his retirement in 2012, died at the age of 83. The school broke the news on its social media channels late Saturday, prompting an outpouring of tributes from former players, colleagues and the broader community.
More Than a Coach
Over his nearly three‑decade tenure he compiled 274 victories, the most in DeKalb County Schools history. That total places him 16th on the all‑time Georgia High School Association win list and eighth among coaches who worked in the state’s highest classification.
Godfrey’s name is enshrined in four separate sports halls of fame, and he is widely regarded as the winningest Black coach in Georgia’s football history. His achievements have been cited in state archives and by national sports historians.
Beyond the gridiron, Godfrey was a scholar who studied at Columbia University, taught English and authored five books. Former player and later assistant Damien Wimes described him as "a renaissance man" whose intellectual curiosity matched his coaching brilliance.
The outpouring of grief on social media underscores the deep connections he forged with students and athletes alike. As one former teammate noted, Godfrey’s legacy lives on in the discipline, academic ambition and community pride he instilled in countless young men.