Piedmont Academy AD Camp Excited About the New Year

This past school year was one of adjustment for Danny Camp.

After being a coach for almost 30 years, the Piedmont Academy athletic director stepped away from on-the-field coaching to be an administrator.

It was also the first year back at Piedmont Academy for Camp, the place where he started his career. After successful stints at Westfield and Stratford, Camp returned to Piedmont to oversee the entire athletic program.

“Not coaching for the first time in 29 years was an adjustment,” Camp said. “I got adjusted to it and feel more comfortable now.”

Camp coached Piedmont’s baseball program to a state title in 2014, helping lay the groundwork for a string of consecutive titles.

The athletic director sees his role as one who works to help student-athletes as well as help get the school’s coaches the resources they need.

“We are excited about the 2025-26 school year,” Camp said. “I am excited about the new staff we have hired. We have some good young coaches. They are passionate and energetic. The kids look up to them as our young coaches can relate to them.”

The new hires are not only good in their respective sports, but also in the classroom, the AD said.

“Our student-athletes are already working,” Camp said this week. “Football, volleyball and softball athletes are working each day. Our cheerleaders are getting ready to go to camp. Our clay shooting team is also gearing up for the new school year. It is really almost full speed ahead at this point.”

Picture day is set for July 31.

After working on the coaching staff last season, Aubrey Payne is in his first year directing the football program. Several new assistants are also working with the gridiron Cougars.

Anthony Williams, who played for Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech, will be the team’s new defensive coordinator. Brian Berkefeld is Piedmont’s new Dean of Students. He brings close to 30 years of coaching experience to the football program, including 20 years as a head coach.

Luke Welch and Jackson Welch, both former Piedmont football players and standout athletes, are back working with the program.

Long-time Piedmont coach Michael Wilson is also working with the football program again.

Jackson Welch is also the school’s new varsity boys basketball coach. Luke Welch will be an assistant for Wilson with the varsity girls basketball program.

Joe Johnson returns to coach fast-pitch softball. Baseball coach Casey Moody will help the Lady Cougars as well.

Emma Silvey is the new volleyball coach after working as an assistant last year. The new volleyball season begins Aug. 9.

Raul Delgado is the new wrestling coach arriving at Piedmont from Locust Grove.

Brooke Dudley and Brianne Satterfield are cheerleader coaches.

“Our athletic programs lost some good athletes,” Camp said. “Being in the AAAA region another year will put some hurdles in front of us. We are a lot younger than we have been in the past. We have to work hard and coach our athletes up and to build our programs. It is the next man up mentality. When I was coaching I never wanted a good team, I wanted a good program.”

Camp helped re-start the school’s Cougar Club, which supports the athletic programs.

“We have been able to do a lot of work on the fields and our facilities,” he said. “We now have some of the bleachers from Rose Bowl Field. We are working on having lights on the baseball field and have new basketball goals in our gyms. Looking ahead, the GIAA will have reclassification next spring.