Coach Waters began his speech and debate journey at Grovetown High School in 2011 as the director of a new program. Under his leadership, the team earned two state championships in Lincoln Douglas Debate and qualified eight students to the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament. During that time, he received the Peach Fuzz Award (2012) and was voted the GFCA Speech Coach of the Year (2014). In 2015, after moving to the Atlanta area, he worked as an Assistant Coach at Marist School for three years, where he coached a debater to the school’s first State Championship in Lincoln Douglas. His tenure at the school led him to earn his first coaching diamond from the NSDA in 2017.

After departing Marist, Coach Waters moved to Northview High School in the fall of 2018. The team grew significantly under his leadership, earning 36 bids to the Tournament of Champions, 8 bids to NIETOC, and 18 qualifiers to NSDA Nationals. In 2020, the GFCA named Northview a School of Excellence, and the NSDA recognized the school as a Debate School of Honor. The team also earned 22 State Championships and seven Sweepstakes awards from the GFCA. In 2021, Coach Waters received the GFCA Debate Coach of the Year Award and the NSDA Don Crabtree Distinguished Service Key. The following year (2022), he received the GFCA J Richard Bracknell Service Award. That year, the team won its first Speech Sweepstakes State Championship, overtaking a team that had won the award for 8 years in a row.

In the fall of 2022, Coach Waters transferred to Lassiter High School, where he earned his second diamond from the NSDA. In 2025, he was also inducted into the GFCA Hall of Fame and honored a second time as the GFCA Speech Coach of the Year. That year, he also helped lead the team to its first Varsity State Speech Championship and Varsity State Runner-Up Overall. In the Spring of 2026, he earned the NSDA Don Crabtree Distinguished Service Plaque, recognizing his commitment to serving the Speech and Debate Community. His time at Lassiter has led the team to 10 State Championships and 11 National Qualifications.

Throughout the years, he has served on the GFCA executive board as Secretary (14-15), Director of Communications (20-22), and Director of Operations (22-24). He also serves on the Georgia Northern Mountain District Committee (21-23; 25-present). He is an active coach within the state and tabulates many tournaments. While he did not participate in the activity as a high school student, he is passionate about seeing students succeed in the activity. He recognizes the impact of this activity on helping students in whatever they endeavor to achieve when they leave high school.

contact: jonathan.waters@cobbk12.org

Coach Waters