COACHES

TRIPP HICKS (Athletic Director and Assistant Cross Country Coach)  Tripp has been coaching volleyball at the middle school level for the past seven years and has coached at the club level for the past four years. He currently serves as an assistant club coach for Tsunami Volleyball and was the assistant middle school coach for KONOS in 2018. He started coaching volleyball in Coweta County at Arnall Middle School, where he served as a Special Education teacher for two years and as a Physical Education teacher for five years. Tripp received his bachelors degree from the University of West Georgia and his masters degree from Jacksonville State University. Tripp and his wife Jackie have three children who participate in KONOS athletics. He enjoys spending time with his family and going for long trail runs.

KYNDRA RESSO (Athletic Director Assistant) Kyndra and Frank have been married for 27 years and have three daughters, two of which are currently HS juniors. They are a long-term homeschool family. Kyndra earned her Bachelors in Human Resource Management at Sacramento State University. Her family has been enthusiastically involved with the Konos Girls Basketball team for the past two years. Kyndra’s desire is to lead by example to glorify God in all that is said and done. Her life verse is Matthew 6:33. She enjoys leading children’s ministry, hosting fun shindigs, and serving where there is a need.

COLBY ALLEN (Varsity Basketball Coach)  Colby is beginning his fourth year with the Konos Basketball program. He served his first three years with the program as both the Head Middle School and Varsity Assistant Coach. He played collegiate football at Bridgewater College in Virginia where he earned a degree in Health Science. He moved on to Old Dominion University where he earned his Master of Physical Therapy Degree and later his Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Colby has always loved basketball and his passion for the game grew when he met and married Holley, who attended the University of Louisville. He is an avid Louisville fan (thanks to Holley) and follows the Cardinals’ program closely. Colby has taken his passion for sports to the healthcare arena where he serves as a physical therapist and works closely with athletes in the local area. Colby and Holley have been married for 18 years and have five children: Logan, Jocelyn, Kylee Grace, Macey and Noah. Colby enjoys weight-lifting, watching sports, reading and investing time in his family. His vision for the basketball program is to develop strong, competitive basketball players who reflect the heart of Christ in the way they conduct themselves both on and off the court.

MATT KNAPP (JV Boys Basketball) Matt completed his first year coaching basketball this past season. Three of his sons play Konos Basketball. He loves the game of basketball and still tries to get out and play with his sons and other young men when he gets a chance. Outside of coaching, he works as the Executive Director for HarvestCall, a mission arm of his church denomination. He also serves as a lay pastor at his church in Peachtree City.  Most of his time and life revolves around spending time with his family and church family, and the greatest joy of his life is one on one time with his wife Dana.  Matt also enjoys working outdoors, relaxing with his family, and watching sports when he has down time.

MATT NEAL (MS Boys Basketball)  Matt completed his first year coaching Konos MS boys basketball. His basketball credentials are having played recreational basketball while growing up, having watched a lot of basketball on TV, having refereed basketball as a job in high school, and having been mistaken by John Wooden as a college basketball player. Outside of basketball, he works as a software engineer at Chick-fil-A. He and his wife, Donnah, have 13 children, which play in several Konos sports including volleyball, basketball, cross country and track.

JAN RUBADO (Girls’ Basketball Coach)  This is Jan’s first year with Konos Athletics as the head coach for the Girls Varsity Basketball program. Jan played multiple sports throughout her high school career and played basketball at the collegiate level. After college, Jan immediately moved to Thailand where she taught English at the university level for two years. While working on her master’s degree in Texas, Jan met and married Steve Rubado. Only twelve weeks after the birth of their first daughter they moved to India. Throughout Jan’s career she has been passionate about people and healthy teaming. When Jan, her husband, and their three daughters returned to the States after nine years of working in India, Jan served as a facilitator of programming for Winshape Teams in Rome, GA. Jan also worked as an assistant basketball coach at Unity Christian School for two years before her family relocated to Sharpsburg, GA, to shorten her husband’s commute as he serves with Lifeshape Inc. Jan homeschools her three daughters who are at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels.

KIRK SMITH (Varsity Baseball Coach)  A graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Golf and Sports Turf Management, he is the owner and president of Lawnsmith Inc., an Atlanta-based commercial landscape company. Coach Kirk has coached boys’ baseball for 18 years and it has always been an important part of his life. His mission is to develop men of character and integrity within a culture of greatness. He is an active member and leader of the Saints Prison Ministry, a ministry that takes softball into prisons nationwide to present the gospel. He has also been the men’s ministry leader at FFBC for 5 years. Kirk and his wife Mickie have been married for 21 years and have four wonderful children: Ty (18), Cole (16), Haley (14) and Luke (14). Not only does Coach Kirk love baseball and softball, he also loves anything outdoors, especially hunting and land management. 

CRAIG SMOKOWICZ (Varsity Boys’ Soccer Coach) Craig has been coaching youth soccer for 7 years. Although he played as a youth himself, his passion for the game took shape when he was living in Brazil. Craig has successfully completed the national soccer association G, F and State E licensing. He and his wife Ana have two children attending KONOS Academy. Craig has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He currently works for Delta Air Lines as an aircraft performance engineer.  His desire is to teach the players godly life lessons through sports, engaging players to appreciate the importance of hard work and teamwork both on and off the pitch.

MICHELLE VILLARS (Cross Country Coach) Michelle and David have four sons, three of which graduated from Konos Academy. She is a graduate of Troy University, with a B.S. degree in business/marketing.  She has been competing in triathlons/running events for several years, including a half-iron man and many half and full marathon events. Coach Villars is a member of the Peachtree City Running Club. Michelle’s goals for the team are that they come together as a family throughout the season, grow in their faith, learn proper warm-up/cool-down so they can run for years to come, get faster, and most importantly have FUN!

PAUL WILEY (Varsity Girls Soccer) Paul has been coaching youth soccer for more than 14 years and has successfully completed the National D U.S. Soccer Licensing.  Paul is currently employed by Chick-fil-A where he has worked for the last 25 years. Paul and his wife, Cassie, are youth leaders in their church and have two children.

GARY WOOD (Golf)  A graduate of Mississippi College with a degree in Business/Marketing, Gary joined the Konos family as our first golf coach after retiring from the Coca-Cola Company. Gary has a passion for the Lord as well as a passion for golf. Over the years, Gary has played golf on over 350 courses around the country, including Augusta National, East Lake, Torrey Pines, Pinehurst #2, The Plantation Course in Kapalua, and The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. Gary has 4 specific goals for each Konos golf team member: 1. Compete at your highest level, 2. Grow in your faith in Christ, 3. Learn new golf skills, and 4. Improve your golf etiquette. Gary and Becky have been married 37 years and live in Newnan, Georgia. They have 2 sons, Garrett, who is Worship Pastor at The Grove Church in Orlando, Florida, and Spencer, who is a High School Football Coach and Recruiter at The Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.