My name is Will Bates I am 28 years old and I am from LaGrange Georgia. I attended Troup High School and graduated in 2013. I played sports such as football and soccer. I attend church at Rosemont Baptist Church. In my free time I like to spend time with my wife and son. I enjoy getting on our back porch grilling and hanging out. I also like to record a podcast, “The Extra Point With The College Football Experience” with my brother in law Gus Golden, where we discuss everything college football. I love cheering for the Florida Gators in the fall. I am currently a teacher at Callaway High School and currently the soccer coach at Callaway Middle School. I have a passion for coaching and helping kids thrive in sports. I served as an assistant coach for the football team at Callaway High school where we won a State Championship in 2020.
About Will Bates
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am currently married to Sidney Bates and we have a son named Watson Bates.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I am currently a teacher at Callaway High School. I love helping kids try to reach their full potential and chase their dreams.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
The advice I would give to people would be to always follow your passion and dreams. The Lord gave you a purpose. Find that purpose and go chase it.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself in the future as an administrator at a school.
Will Bates & Our Community
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
My favorite places to eat in LaGrange are Karvelas, Fat Daddy’s, Pizza Villa, Jim Bobs, and Juanitos
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in this community my whole life except for the years I went to college. I have worked in LaGrange for the past 5 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
The two most interesting people that I have met in LaGrange are Dusty Hubbard and Matt Napier. Both have served our community as coaches and both are men that I look up to. Dusty is the Defensive Coordinator for Callaway High football and has also been the baseball coach for about 16 years. Matt was at Callaway High for a long time before becoming the head football coach at LaGrange High School. They are both great leaders and are well respected across the state as coaches. Former players always come back to see them. They have both made a huge impact on the lives of so many kids.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Bates World Body Shop is my dad’s business and has been for almost 30 years. It was practically my 2nd home growing up, so it makes me nostalgic when I think about the times spent there.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
One of my favorite things I love about our community is that we hold a basketball game for our special needs kids from all three high schools. This gives us the opportunity to cheer for those kids make them feel special. All three schools put their differences aside and we cheer for a bigger purpose.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
The person I would choose to meet for lunch is Tim Tebow and I would take him to Fat Daddy’s for lunch. Being a huge Florida fan I have always looked up to him. His willingness to serve others and make an impact on others is really inspiring to me. With his success he could easily just be ‘chillin’ at the house but he is out doing things around the world to help. Night to Shine is a prom he sponsors around the world for special needs children. I find it so cool and would love to get involved with this. Would I love to hear Florida Gator stories while having lunch – of course I would – but hearing his passion and mission is one of the main reasons I would invite him to lunch!
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
One of my favorite movies is Remember The Titans. It is a story about Williams High School being the first school having both black and white races together on the same football team. The movie highlights individuals on the team who played a big part in bringing the players together as one team and overcoming any feelings of racism.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Most people don’t know that I am an over thinker.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Being with family on a fall night by a fire is definitely my idea of a 10 out of 10 experience.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife and son inspire me to be a better person.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
When I think of HOME I think of the words, Safe, Rest and Comfortable. Everyone should feel safe in their home, it is also where I can rest and feel comfortable.
