Athletics Staff
Director of Athletics
Will Cohen enters his ninth year as Director of Athletics and his twelfth year working in athletics at The First Academy. He is a 2008 graduate of The First Academy who went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in Sport Administration in 2012 from Samford University.
Assistant Director of Athletics
Trey Tyler enters his third year as an Assistant Director of Athletics and his fourteenth year working in athletics at The First Academy. Trey served as our head of Athletic Training from 2010-2021. He is a native of North Alabama and graduated from Troy University with his bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training in 2008. He is married to his wife, Kristin.
Assistant Director of Athletics
Russell Holley begins his second year at The First Academy after having been a head football coach across the southeast for more than 30 years. He graduated from Charleston Southern University with his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. He is married to his wife Laura, and has a daughter, Carson.
Associate Director of Athletics & Head Girls Basketball Coach
Kevin Hall begins his second year at The First Academy but has a long career in athletics at both the high school and collegiate levels. He was the Athletic Director at Toccoa Falls College in Georgia from 2016-2020 before transitioning into high school athletics. Kevin is also the head coach for our girls’ basketball program. He graduated from the United States Sports Academy with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Sports Management. He is married to his wife, Jamie, and they have five children.
Head Athletic Trainer
Jessica Kenning enters her third year as the head athletic trainer, and her seventh year on the athletics staff. She is a 2013 graduate of The First Academy who went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2017, and her master’s of Athletic Training from The University of Central Florida in 2021. She is married to her husband, Cory.
Sports Information Coordinator, Director of Football Operations, MS Athletics Coordinator
Bo Burgess enters his third year in athletics at The First Academy. He is a 2016 Graduate of The First Academy who went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in Sport Administration from Samford University in 2020.
Athletics Administrative Assistant
Danielle Shelburne enters her second year as Athletics Administrative Assistant. She joins The First Academy after being the Head Women’s Golf Coach at her alma mater, Stetson University, for five years. She graduated from Stetson in 2010 with her bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. She is married to her husband, Michael, and they have two sons.
Athletics Coordinator
Will Pikalow enters his second year as the Athletics Coordinator after having served as an athletics intern for the 2021-2022 school year. He graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2022 with his bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Associate Director of Athletics & Head Football Coach
Jeff Conaway enters his first year at The First Academy as the Associate Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach. Coach Conaway comes to TFA after spending a total of 13 years at Shiloh Christian in Springdale, Arkansas. For the past 9 years, he served as Shiloh’s Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach. He is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and Arkansas State University. He is married to his wife, Melissa, and they have three children.