COACH MEGAN MENDEZ -  mlmendez@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Coach Megan Mendez - Coach Megan Mendez was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was while attending the University of Pittsburgh that she discovered a love for running and has been running ever since. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology and her teaching certificate. Since moving to Georgia she has earned her Master's in Literacy Education and her Specialist's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

Coach Mendez is starting her 18th year in education and will be teaching AP and IB Psychology as well as US History this year. Her husband is also a high school teacher. They were married in 2013 and have one son, Deacon, who you will all see at pasta dinners! In her spare time Coach Mendez enjoys reading, yoga, traveling, and running. She has a goal of running in all 50 states with her best friend.

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COACH TIM SEELEY - f43780@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Coach Tim Seeley - Coach Seeley has been involved with Cross Country and Track and Field for over
25 years. Originally from Pennsylvania, he was a four-time letter winner in high school and college for XC and T/F at Souderton Area HS and Muhlenberg College. Post-
collegiately, Seeley was able to coach at his alma mater at Souderton – and then eventually joined his wife Pam on the coaching staff at La Salle College High School. Upon moving to Forsyth County in 2021, he was lucky enough to have been able to coach at Lambert for 2 ½ years before transitioning to South Forsyth.

Over the course of his coaching career, he has been blessed to have been part of program coaching staffs that have multiple Top 4 GHSA/PIAA State finishes in XC – as well as dozens of GHSA/PIAA State medalists in T/F. Seeley has held the tremendous honor to have coached four relays that were ranked in the top 25 in the United States at the end of their respective seasons, including the La Salle College team that won the Championship of America Distance Medley Relay at the 2013 Penn Relays.

His wife Pam teaches Science at SFHS (and is the Head Coach for SFHS T/F), and they
have three daughters: Aubrey (6th grade), Katie (4th grade), and Paige (2nd grade). All of
our girls are excited to become future War Eagles!

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COACH KATIE JAMES -  kjames@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Coach Katie James - This year marks my 21st year in education.  I am currently the Instructional Coach at South Forsyth Middle School.  The first part of my career was spent teaching elementary school and coaching high school cross-country and track in Fulton County.  As an alum of Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek, I held the school record for the mile for 10 years, until I coached one of my runners to break my record!  What an honor! I am the 4A, 1998 Georgia State Champion in the mile with a time of 5:09. I continued my running career at the University of Alabama, ROLL TIDE, running cross-country and track.  

I moved to Forsyth County nine years ago and began teaching at South Forsyth Middle School.  I continued coaching at the middle school and had the pleasure of coaching and teaching many of the current SFHS XC & Track athletes. I am excited to move back up to high school this year to have the opportunity to coach your student-athletes, and my son Connor, who is a freshman.

My husband and I have been married for 16 years.  We have three children: Connor (9th grade), Maureen (8th grade), and Declan (5th grade).  We love being active as a family and spend weekends cheering on our children and their friends at all sporting events.   

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COACH DESTA LONG

I’m a Minnesota native & a Vikings diehard!  I’ve lived in GA for 21 years.  

I have three wonderful kids: Paige-20-graduated SFHS 2022; Pierson- 17 - rising junior & SFHS XC & track runner; Preston- 10- rising 5th grade. Paige got married last year to Logan (my bonus son!) & is expecting a little girl on 7/28/24. I’m extremely excited to be a grandma!

I’ve been coaching since 2018 at SFHS.  I am a former marathon runner & Boston Marathon qualifier.  Since 2014 I’ve enjoyed CrossFit & strength training.  I also am NASM certified & have my CrossFit level 1 certification.

I work full time as a medical supervisor at a    functional health clinic.  However, as much as I can I still join in at practices and especially the meets!  In my spare time, I enjoy being with my kids & my better half, Paul.

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BEN HANLON

Coach Ben was born in Louisville, Kentucky and spent his childhood moving around the U.S. with his family before they settled in Cumming in 2011.

Coach Ben began his running journey in 2015 right here at South Forsyth, starting his career running “open” and finishing his senior year as a member of the 2018 state champion cross country team (as the alternate). He went on to compete for five years at Berry College, where he was a member of the first  conference championship team in school history, and went on to help the team to six subsequent cross country and track conference titles, finishing all-conference and all-region nine times, including one individual title. He also holds a world record as a member of the 2024 ATL 100xMile relay. Post collegiately, Hanlon competes with the Creaky Bones Track Club.

When he’s not running, you can find Coach Ben at Big Peach Cumming, where he acts as store manager in all but his job title, at The Mad Italian eating meatball subs with his college roommates, or at home playing cards with his family and dog.

Coach Ben began as an assistant coach with track and field this past spring, and is very excited to be a part of the staff this fall. Go War Eagles!