Georgia’s Winningest HS Girls Basketball Coach

Coach Gene Durden, with an illustrious coaching tenure spanning nearly four decades, has been a transformative figure in girls’ basketball at Buford High School. Having begun his journey in coaching in the late ’80s, Coach Durden has consistently incorporated  The Gun basketball shooting machines into his team’s training regimens, which he first acquired back then and has utilized ever since. “I bought my first Shoot-A-Way machine back in the late ’80s, and I’ve continued to use them as part of our program ever since. These machines have significantly contributed to our program’s success since we first introduced them,” he shares.

Entering his nineteenth year as head coach for the Buford Lady Wolves, Durden’s tenure at Buford has been nothing short of spectacular, with the Lady Wolves achieving a record of 27-4 just last year, making it to the “Final Four” of the 7A state tournament. Under his leadership, the team has competed in ten state championship games over the last fifteen years, securing eight titles.

In his 36th season as a head coach, Durden achieved a personal milestone by winning his 900th game on January 6th, 2023, marking him as the winningest girls basketball coach in the state of Georgia. Coach Durden’s success isn’t just measured in wins but also in the profound impact he has on his players. He values the role of technology in training, noting that “The Gun has been instrumental in enhancing our players’ shooting skills, a critical aspect of our game strategy and one I greatly value.”

Before his time at Buford, Durden coached at Dade County High School in Trenton, GA, where he led the Lady Wolverines to seven Region Championships and numerous state tournament appearances over 14 years. His coaching career began at Brookwood School in Thomasville, GA, where he coached both boys and girls varsity basketball.

In addition to his coaching duties, Durden is actively involved with the Georgia Basketball Coaches Association and serves as the girls basketball committee director for the Georgia Coaches Association.

As Coach Durden continues to build on his legacy, his innovative approach and dedication to excellence remain key to the sustained success of Buford High School’s basketball program.