Dave Carroll, also known as “The Old Codger,” is a retired teacher, coach, and administrator who dedicated 35 years of his career to Fairland Local Schools. Mr. Carroll earned his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and his master’s degree from the University of Rio Grande.

Throughout his career, Mr. Carroll wore many hats and had the privilege of working with countless students, athletes, teachers, and coaches. He began his career at Fairland Middle School, where he spent 17 years teaching 7th- and 8th-grade mathematics, 8th-grade science, and health.

His time at the middle school was also filled with coaching. He coached both the 7th- and 8th-grade boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, served as both an assistant and head middle school football coach, and was both an assistant and head boys’ track coach. He was blessed with many outstanding athletes during those years and was fortunate enough to win at least one conference championship in every sport he coached, including multiple conference championships and tournament titles in several sports.

The final 18 years of his career were spent at Fairland High School, where he taught a wide variety of mathematics courses, including Algebra I, Algebra II, Algebra III, Algebra I College Prep, Algebra II College Prep, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and various intervention courses. During his final two years at Fairland High School, he served as the school’s assistant principal.

Mr. Carroll continued his involvement in athletics at the high school, serving as an assistant girls’ softball coach, assistant football coach, and head football coach.

Today, being part of the FDN Broadcast Team gives Mr. Carroll an opportunity to give back to the students, school district, and community that have supported him throughout his career. As the color commentator for FDN broadcasts, he also has the opportunity to work alongside Coach Jack Harris, one of the many mentors who made a lasting impact on his life and career.

In retirement, Dave enjoys spending time with his family and friends, staying connected to the Fairland community, and enjoying one of his favorite things—a beach, anywhere he can find one.

Jack Harris, "The Oldest Codger,” is a 1970 graduate of Fairland High School. He attended Ohio University, where he earned a degree in education in 1974. Coach Harris began his teaching career at Crooksville, where he taught for four years, before returning to Fairland and teaching for 26 years.

Along with teaching, Coach Harris served as an assistant baseball coach for three years. He coached softball for one year, leading the team to an OVC championship. He was the head girls’ basketball coach for three years and won the OVC championship all three years. Coach Harris also led the boys’ basketball program for 18 years, winning five OVC championship titles and reaching the regional semifinals twice.

Coach Harris served as an assistant football coach for several years before becoming the head coach for seven years and winning multiple OVC championships. He had the privilege of coaching the 1993 football team—the first Fairland football team ever to make the state playoffs!

Coach Harris has been inducted into the Fairland Athletic Hall of Fame not only once, but twice: in 2020 as a member of the 1993 football team and again in 2022 as an individual.

Coach Harris has been married to Peggy Harris for 44 blessed years. They have two daughters, Ashley Whitley and Holley Donahue, who both currently coach basketball at Fairland. They also have five grandchildren—Stella, Lola, Cash, Rosey, and Frankie—who are current or future Fairland student-athletes.

In retirement, Coach Harris enjoys running his grandchildren everywhere and taking naps. You will most likely see him at Fairland sporting events supporting his grandchildren, and he continues to officiate local basketball leagues.

Coach Jack Harris has truly embodied a love and passion for Fairland, and he continues to pass that love along to his family!

Jeff Gorby is entering his 13th year as Athletic Director at Fairland High School, capping a career built on a lifelong devotion to the Green and White. Before stepping into the AD role at the high school, Gorby spent seven years at Fairland Middle School as an intervention teacher, during which he also served two years as the Middle School Athletic Director.

Gorby's coaching résumé spans multiple sports and levels within the Fairland School District. He served as Head Middle School Football Coach and Middle School Boys Basketball Coach, and worked as an assistant track coach at both the middle school and high school levels. On the gridiron, he progressed from assistant high school football coach to Defensive Coordinator, and he also coached assistant high school boys and girls basketball. Along the way, he was part of numerous Ohio Valley Conference championships as well as OHSAA district and regional championship teams.

In the fall of 2020, Gorby spearheaded an effort to bring Fairland Athletics into the streaming era. With significant help from Doug Morris and Jerry Bell, the department launched livestreaming of Fairland games — a program that, under Jerry Bell's continued leadership, has grown far beyond what Gorby says he ever imagined.

Gorby's connection to Fairland runs deep. His grandparents, Mag and Weldon Jones, were longtime employees of the district, and it was through their stories of Fairland greats — legends like Carl York and Jim Mayo, and coaches John Lemley and Roger Snyder — that Gorby first learned what it meant to bleed green and white. That legacy continued with his parents, who both became Fairland bus drivers; his father continues to drive for the district today. Being driven to games by his own parents, and sharing in championship runs alongside his teammates, is something Gorby describes as "the stuff fairy tales are made of."

After graduating from Fairland, Gorby attended Marshall University, where he committed to a career in teaching and coaching so he could give back to the community that shaped him. Early in his tenure, longtime Fairland supporter Dale Burcham — a 1949 graduate of Proctorville High School — told Gorby he could build something special at Fairland. Gorby made a promise that day to work tirelessly for his school and community, a promise he continues to honor.

Jeff lives with his wife, Megan, and their two daughters, Yardley and Ellison — both Fairland Dragons.

Jerry Bell is the teacher and director behind the FDN Network and Fairland High School’s student-run video production program. A 1994 graduate of Chesapeake High School, Jerry originally planned to become an art teacher. After briefly changing his major to computer programming, he ultimately returned to the arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Morehead State University in 2003, with an emphasis in graphic design.

Following graduation, Jerry began his professional career with a major design firm in Lexington, Kentucky. After the birth of his daughter, he and his family moved back to the area, where he operated his own graphic design business until 2018. During that same period, he also taught as an adjunct instructor at several local colleges and universities.

In 2018, Jerry decided to return to his original goal of becoming a K–12 art teacher. At the beginning of 2020, he was offered the art and ceramics teaching position at Fairland High School. Along with those classes, he was given the opportunity to teach News Production—a role that would eventually grow into Fairland’s student-run FDN Network.

Today, Jerry works with students to produce live athletic broadcasts, FHS News, special events, interviews, highlights, and other original content for the Fairland community. Drawing from his background in art, graphic design, coaching, teaching, and video production, he helps students develop real-world skills in broadcasting, directing, camera operation, graphic design, audio production, instant replay, video editing, teamwork, and leadership.

Under his direction, Fairland’s student broadcasters have earned recognition for their work, including awards for Best Student-Run Broadcast Team and Play of the Year. Jerry’s goal is to provide students with professional-level opportunities while creating broadcasts that inform, entertain, and bring the Fairland community together.

Whether he is directing behind the scenes, troubleshooting equipment, creating graphics, or helping students prepare for a live production, Jerry is proud to help his students develop their talents and tell the stories of Fairland.

Away from school and the broadcast booth, Jerry enjoys spending time with his wife, Trisha, and their family.

Doug is the recently retired Programming Producer for the Armstrong Neighborhood Channel, which produces local television programming. Many years ago, Doug graduated from Point Pleasant High School in West Virginia and Marshall University. Throughout his career, he has worked in both radio and television.

For 20 years, Doug served as president of Maverick Media, providing video production services to clients in the television, educational, commercial, and industrial markets. He then spent seven years in Charleston, West Virginia, working as a videographer and editor for a video production company. There, he helped create documentary and educational projects for national and international markets. His commute ended in 2012 when he accepted a position with Armstrong.

Doug and his wife, Linda, live in Rome Township. They have two daughters, three granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren—including two Fairland Dragons!

Doug’s involvement with the Fairland Dragons Network began as part of Armstrong’s commitment to producing local television programming, but sports videography has since become something he truly enjoys. He has loved being involved with FDN and watching the program grow. Doug believes the teamwork and creativity displayed through FDN’s productions and the Dragon’s Eye Club will serve students well, regardless of the career paths they choose.

Josh is a 1998 graduate of Cabell Midland High School. He went on to earn a degree in electronics and computer engineering from a technical college. He later returned to school and earned his bachelor’s degree in medical imaging through Marshall University and St. Mary’s School of Medical Imaging.

After working for approximately 10 years in IT and technical support roles, Josh transitioned into the medical field. He currently works in interventional radiology at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

Josh is married to Brandi, a 1999 Fairland graduate. Together, they have one son, Preston, who is currently a senior at Fairland High School. Josh and his family are members of First Baptist Church of Proctorville.

Josh refers to himself as a “utility man,” meaning he is always happy to do whatever is needed to support Fairland athletics.