NEWNAN, Ga. – The metro Atlanta volleyball community is remembering a beloved school and club coach who passed away after a battle with cancer.
Coach James McCall died on December 24 after being hospitalized due to complications from chemotherapy. He would have turned 58 on Christmas Day.
McCall has coached varsity volleyball for the Heritage School of Newnan and the WGVA Chaos Club Volleyball teams.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beloved volleyball coach, James McCall, known as JMac to his players and friends,” Heritage School wrote on Instagram. “Our deepest condolences go out to J. Mac’s family, friends and everyone touched by his presence, and we are so appreciative of the wonderful legacy he left behind.”
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
McCall chose to battle cancer privately, but his former and current players had one last chance to say their goodbyes before his death, the school said. The school said he had an impact beyond the court.
“His dedication, passion and unwavering commitment to our athletes was evident in every practice and game. The Heritage family has not only lost a coach, but a mentor, friend and source of inspiration.”
Trending stories:
McCall’s obituary said he had an infectious smile, passion for the Miami Hurricanes and beloved Kenny Chesney.
“If you look for the life of the party, you’ll find that James had the most fun. He loved having a good time with friends whether it was on the golf course, the beach or at the Reel Shady. But the true love of his life was his wife Tammy.”
McCall is survived by his wife, Tammy, and his stepson, Logan, along with their “fur babies.” His family requests that any donations in his memory be made to WGVA Chaos Volleyball here.
“He loved mentoring and watching his ‘kids’ develop into true athletes. He had a special love for his children and families in the volleyball field,” his obituary stated.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
In other news
This browser does not support the video component.