Booker T. Washington High School celebrated the hiring of its new head football coach and boys basketball coach, who both already have a history of success with the Bulldogs.
Lawrence Smith and William Faulkner were welcomed back to Washington with cheers from an excited audience of students, administrators, alumni, and community members who are excited about the future of Bulldogs athletics.
Smith, a Booker T. Washington alumnus (Class of 1997), helped lead the Bulldogs to its first winning season in almost 20 years when he was a senior. He earned a full football scholarship to Tennessee State University, where he was a four-year starter and two-time All-Conference player. He started on back-to-back Conference Championship teams, including an 11-0 team which was ranked #1 in the nation. Smith went on to play multiple years in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. He also played in NFL Europe and the Arena Football League.
After retiring from professional football, Smith volunteered for two years at Washington before becoming the first head coach at Saint Francis High School in Alpharetta for two years. He coached at Cedar Grove High School as the offensive coordinator for eight years and won three state championships, going back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. After leaving Cedar Grove, Smith was the offensive coordinator at Crisp County for one year. When he became the head coach, the team won a region championship and made the playoffs all three years. However, he is most proud of improving the team G.P.A. from 2.7 to 3.2 in his time as the head coach.
“This means a whole lot. I’m honored and excited,” Smith said. “I’m not big on fanfare and all that stuff. I’m about substance for these kids. I want them to come with the mindset to be great, do better, and do the best you can to be great at everything that you do.”
Faulkner, who coached the Bulldogs boys basketball program from 2009-2014, led Washington on multiple state playoff runs, including a trip to the Final Four in 2012.
“I still owe Booker T. Washington High School,” he said. “We have to bring that state championship back here.”
After his first stint with Washington, Faulkner coached the Benjamin E. Mays High School boys basketball team (2014-2019) and led them to multiple state playoff appearances as well. Then, from 2019-2024, he took a 4-20 Decatur High School team and won two consecutive region championships (2023 and 2024).
“I am extremely excited to be returning to Washington High School and I look forward to helping restore this program to the level of greatness that the school, alumni, and community are used to,” Faulkner said.
Both coaches shared their excitement and championship aspirations at their introductory press conference in the school auditorium but also emphasized the discipline and buy-in needed to reach such high goals.
The last time Faulkner and Smith were at Booker T. Washington High School, they helped turn the Bulldogs into a winning program. Today, the Washington community is excited to see them do it again and “Bring it back to the excellence that it always has been,” Faulkner said.
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