Coaching carousel: Lane takes over as AD, homecoming for Gottlieb as boys hoops coach in new era at Trinity

Editor’s note: This is the third in a multi-part series focused on coaching changes at local schools for the 2024-25 athletic year.

A new headmaster, athletic director and boys basketball coach – plus several newcomers to other leadership posts across Crusader sports programs – are among the many changes marking a new era for Trinity Christian athletics as its 2024-25 season begins next month. 

Turnover was abundant for the school this offseason in more places than just its athletic offices, with a transition from outgoing head of school Jeremy Blackstock to successor Larry Collins, who moves to Dublin via Southland Academy, headlining a list of new hires on the administration and academic side. 

There will be plenty of fresh names up and down the coaches’ roster as well, starting with that of Bruce Lane, who was originally named the Crusaders’ new head football coach in January, and later in the year added the title of athletic director for the coming year when Trinity’s longtime AD and head soccer coach Aaron George announced a new career direction after 21 years with the school. 

Lane, who’s handled some type of athletic administration role in more than half his nearly 40 years coaching high school ball, was the natural choice to step into the opening. 

“I am honored and excited to have been named the athletic director at Trinity Christian School,” Lane said in a May statement. “I am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the administration at Trinity. We are thankful for the years of hard work by Coach George as he has built Trinity Christian athletics into one of the finest departments in the state. We look forward to building on those successes in the years to come as we compete for HIM, in athletics, the classroom and in our everyday life.” 

The Baldwin County native, and former head coach at John Milledge Academy, will lead the Crusaders onto Cleve Warnock Field for their regular season debut against Brentwood August 16 joined by a staff of assistants made up of both new coaches, and old. 

Two who haven’t worn Crusader Blue in a while, but are more than familiar to local fans, are the sibling duo of Rob and Ben East, who are getting back into coaching after a debut on the sidelines as assistants at Dublin Middle in 2019. 

The two came up as athletes at Trinity before completing their high school football careers with the Dublin Irish. Both went on to play at Mercer University, Rob appearing in three different seasons for the Bears as a quarterback and punter between 2013 and 2015. 

Both, since the conclusion of their playing days, have remained close to the local football scene as radio commentators. Rob, who’ll be overseeing quarterbacks and linebackers, and Ben, coaching positions on the lines of scrimmage, have hit it off well with Crusader players in their time so far.  

“Those guys were here with us in the spring,” Lane said. “They’ve gotten to know the kids, and the kids have invested and bought in.” 

Lane’s son Christian, who was an assistant in his former head coaching role at Bethlehem Christian, will also be joining to serve as Trinity’s new receivers coach, and defensive coordinator. 

“He’s going to bring an exciting and attacking style of defense,” Lane said.  

Returnees to the staff include Mike Giles, who will work with inside linebackers and tight ends, and Tyler Green, who will be a varsity assistant on top of primary duties as strength and conditioning coordinator and head middle school coach. 

The Crusaders are set to take the field for their preseason scrimmage on August 9, with official “fall” practices already under way.  

“We’re excited about it,” Lane said earlier in the month. “Right now, we’re in the middle of the grind. Everybody’s ready to get started. You’ve been in weight room 20-plus times, and you’re ready to do something besides just lift weights and go outside and work on skills and conditioning.” 

A new opportunity came calling for former Crusader head football coach Jed Marsh, who was relieved after three seasons, to lead an ongoing program revival at Citizens Christian Academy in Douglas. The Patriots, set to compete in the GIAA’s 8-man football division, will be fielding a varsity squad this fall for the first time since 2006. 

Basketball and football assistant James Martin was also picked up by Dooly County’s Fullington Academy, as head basketball coach. 

Taking over for Brad Bristol, who resigned as Trinity’s boys hoops coach after a year for a new job out-of-state, is Dublin native and Crusader alum Nolan Gottlieb. 

The 2001 Trinity graduate, who played Division II college basketball and got his start in coaching at Anderson (S.C.) University, is returning to education after a several-year adventure in real estate, which he’ll continue to practice part-time. 

“I couldn’t be more excited to get started on the court and in the classroom,” Gottlieb said in a release. “Both basketball and science have played a huge part in my life, and I can’t wait to share these passions with the students at Trinity. As a biased TCS grad, I think this place is special and has an incredible opportunity to greatly impact the Kingdom in ways that can only be explained by being ordained by the Lord.” 

Vacancies remain in Trinity’s girls and boys soccer program, where the school has not yet announced a successor to George as head coach.