By Jordan Divens

Sharman White was recently hired by the Georgia State basketball staff as an assistant coach under Ron Hunter. The former Miller Grove High School coach won seven of the last eight AAAAA Georgia state championships. 

“My story is a story of persistence, to show others that they can have success by being committed to the process," White said.

Climbing the ladder

White started as a middle school basketball coach, and assisted the high school varsity team for six years before catching his first break. He was chosen as the head coach of Carver High School, a team that had won three games the previous season. “The first year with Carver, we went 11-17, but we came within two games of a state championship. I had to change the culture of the team and get them to buy into the process. By the playoffs, nobody wanted to play us because we believed in the process.” 

After a few years at Carver, Miller Grove called White to inform him they were opening a school, and wanted him to be the athletic director and head basketball coach. He accepted, and never looked back.

“Opening up a new school means I can establish my own culture, I don’t have to change the culture, I was able to build a culture myself," White said. “The goal was to be one of the top programs in the country.”

Success at Miller Grove

Since he started in 2005, Miller Grove won an unprecedented seven state titles in eight years and built a program that's now known nationally for its success on the basketball court.

“We had a lot of great players over the years who were hard-working and committed to the process. It became a situation where we were very close to being a championship team and we just never relinquished it.” said White. 

White brought national renown to Miller Grove, and finished his career there with a record of 264-47 and seven state titles. This season, he led Miller Grove to their first-ever appearance at Dick’s Nationals after a strong 30-2 season. Miller Grove held their own against the nation’s best, and took down perennial power Findlay Prep 67-65 in their first-round matchup. They also gave eventual champions Oak Hill Academy all they could handle in a 47-46 defeat in their semifinal game.

“Dick’s Nationals helped our program become synonymous with success and helped our program gain notoriety on the national stage,” White said.

The next step

Naturally, the next step for White was to move up in the college ranks. “I felt this was a great opportunity for me at this time: a great coach to learn under in Ron Hunter; an ascending program in my home state; I know I can recruit in that area; I have a lot of AAU contacts, and know the high school coaches in the area. I wanted to hitch myself to the right wagon.”

At just 44 years old, White has already accomplished a lot in his coaching career, but he's still chasing his goals. 

“I definitely would like to become a Division I head coach. I need to learn as much as I can to accomplish that goal," White said. "I would also enjoy getting into the professional level at some point, whether that be coaching, managing, or scouting.”

White certainly has a bright future ahead of him. His successful past has given him the opportunity to establish himself at the next level.