This article is the first of a summer series of "Get to Know" sessions with various high school and middle school coaches in Dawson County.

Delete - Merge UpEach week, a coach will be featured answering questions about their personal lives and coaching careers.

The first interview was with Dawson County veteran coach Steve Sweat.

Sweat is the varsity girls basketball coach at Dawson County High School.

Tell me about your family:

I'm blessed with my wife Sandy, 30 years this July. She is a retired special education teacher after 32 years. We have two sons, Cody, 27, who works for Chic-fil-A in Cumming and Cooper, 24, who works as a Sous Chef at Food 101. We have two wonderful daughter-in-laws, Heidi and Brittany. The best granddaughter ever, Harley Chapel, who is five-months-old.

Where did you grow up and go to high school?

I grew up in Hall County and started high school at Johnson. We moved and I graduated from Jackson County in 1976. I had a great high school career and earned a scholarship to play at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala.

Any accolades in college?

Most proud of my three degrees. I was not sure if I would ever get one. Undergrad and master's degree from North Georgia. Specialist in Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.

What are some of your milestones as a boys and girls basketball coach?

I have won some coach of the year awards thanks to really good players. Biggest milestone for me is helping kids be successful in life.

How long have you been coaching?

I have coached every year since I started [teaching], which has been 31 years. I started out coaching boys, switched to girls, went back to boys, and switched again back to girls where I have remained until now.

What is your coaching record?

451-289

Tell me some of your most memorable moments in sports and why:

I enjoy helping kids have a chance to be successful and playing for state championships.

What made you start coaching girls' basketball?

I just wanted to coach because of the coaches I had throughout my life. I had no intentions of coaching girls until I was offered a job and the position was to help coach the girls' basketball team. I took it and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

What is your job as administrator at the high school?

I am one of the assistant principals and I am in charge of discipline.

What drew you to Dawson County High School, why did you come back (he had left Dawson County for several years at one point), and what motivates you to keep coaching?

Many prayers. I knew it was a great place to work when I left the first time. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to come back and I feel very blessed to be here. Again, I love seeing kids succeed and having a part in getting to be able to do things they thought they could not do is very motivational. All it takes is one thank you, a phone call, or a visit from a current or returning player to keep me motivated to coach.

How long do you think you will continue to coach?

As long as it is still fun. And winning helps.

Anything else you would like to add?

I would like to give thanks to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior for all of the blessings, the people he has put in my life, and all of the abilities he has given me to accomplish anything I have accomplished in my career and life.

- Pam Jacobs