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The Life of a Coach’s Wife: Robin Shaver

During her senior year of college at Georgia Southwestern, Robin Jones met and man by the name of Bill Shaver.  She was completing her coursework to receive a degree in early childhood education and preparing to student teach; he was a graduate assistant at the school, coaching alongside legendary coach Jimmy Hightower.  The two would constantly see each other, as the football facility and the education department shared the same parking lot.

Fast forward to 2015, and Robin Jones is now Robin Shaver; the two have been married for 30 years as of June.  Bill is now the head coach of the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets, and Robin is currently the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator for Thomas County Schools.

They have two children; their son, Kyle, it 27 years old and is a Thomas County Central alum.  After receiving his degree from Georgia Southern University, he now works for Flowers Foods and is the president of the Athletic Booster Club for Thomas County Athletics.  Their daughter, Kaylee, is 20 years old and also a TCC graduate.  She currently attend the University of Georgia, where she is studying sports medicine.

 “I attend every TCC game – I coordinate our away games as well,” Mrs. Shaver says.  “The coaches’ wives ride together to our away games – it is always a fun time for us to get together to talk, laugh, and share stories about our families. We sit together at every game and cheer on our Jackets.”

As the action unfolds on game nights, the stands are jam-packed with wild, screaming fans.  However; Mrs. Shaver doesn’t exactly fall into that mold.  During the game, aside from the occasional high-five or cheer, she is locked in to the contest.

“My demeanor during the games is ‘focused’,” she says.  “I am watching every aspect of the game – from kickoff to the offensive line, the snap, the handoff, the pitch, the pass – tackling, whatever.”

Her love of football is far from newfound.  As a student at Dodge County High School, Mrs. Shaver served as the editor of the yearbook committee, and part of her duties included covering all of the football games.  Now, her excitement for the game grows daily, largely in part to her family.web tcwife inset1 SG 1015

“Football is a part of our life.  It is all about family to us,” Mrs. Shaver says.  “I knew that I was a football fan early on in our married life, because when Bill isn’t even at home, I am watching a game; college or NFL, doesn’t matter.  I have it on when he isn’t even at home.  We just love the game!”

The life of a football coach’s wife includes more than just a busy schedule.  It includes often taking in “new” family, and many coaches find themselves treating their players as they would their own children.

“Bill is compassionate about his players,” Mrs. Shaver says.  “He works really hard to make sure that they know he cares about them on and off of the field; he helps them with their academics (he is a math teacher) and tutors when they need assistance, he takes them on college visits; when the players are playing at the next level, we attend their games, and he calls them to encourage them weekly.  We love having the players over to our home each season for supper too.  They enjoy coming to our house, and we love having them over to eat and share funny stories.”

In team sports, the most successful groups are the ones that find a special bond.  They are dangerous on the field because they are united before they step on it.  The Yellow Jackets are more than a team, and they are more than a community.  They are a family.  And the Mrs. Shaver is extremely proud of her role within the system.

“All of our coaches’ families sit together in the stands and cheer for our husbands and players.  Following the home games, we have our family get-togethers when we gather and eat in one of our homes and watch the post-game sports shows on TV; we eat and fellowship until everyone is tired and ready to go home!  It is a fun time for our coaching families and the children to have fun together.  Football is about family; that’s what I enjoy.”


South Georgia / October 2015

The Life of a Coach’s Wife

Robin Shaver

Thomasville, Ga.

In Thomas County, “Football is Family”

By James Washington

Photography by Lindsi Jones

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