Hello, my name is Gene Durden and here is a little info on me. I grew up in a small south Georgia town called Midville in a farming community, which contributed to my work ethic and country boy raising. My love and passion for basketball started from my mother, Josie Durden who also loved playing in her high school days. My dad was a farmer and is also named Gene. I attended Edmund Burke Academy for high school and played basketball there. I played college basketball for Brunswick College and then finished my college with a Business Education degree from Georgia Southern. My first coaching job was at Brookwood School located in Thomasville for the first three years of my career, then I coached thirteen years at Dade County High School in the mountains of NW Ga. I then made my final move to Buford in 2005 with my family to coach girls basketball at Buford High School. Buford is home and we are so proud to have spent the past eighteen years watching our family grow and now have family of their own with Buford roots dug in deep.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am married to my beautiful wife Cherie for the past 36 years and we are the proud parents of Devin deceased Oct 4, 2012, Christian, Coby and Danielle. All four of our children graduated from Buford High School and now have families of their own. We also have six grandchildren named Josie, Jack, Jamie, Beau, GiGi and Billy. Our son Christian is a firefighter and paramedic in Forsyth County and our twins Coby and Danielle are teachers at Buford Middle School where my wife Cherie also works as school nurse.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have been a girls basketball coach for the past 36 years and I could not tell you how lucky and blessed I have been to have this opportunity to do this job. The relationships and memories are what I love most about this job. I would not trade them for anything.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Dawg House, Ricos, and Home Spun
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
18 years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I would list two of my mentors, Dexter Wood and Tony Wolfe
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
The outback of Australia
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Maverick Top Gun Sequel, Yellowstone
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Don’t take for granted what others pray for!
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Just traveling to places I would like to see
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Bon Jovi
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Buford High School
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Michael Jordan – His passion and drive for the game of basketball. Any great restaurant
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Family feel of supporting each other
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Still coaching basketball and spending time with my family
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I used to catch and raise alligators when I was younger
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Mountains in fall
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
April and Christmas
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Myself, I challenge myself all the time to become better in many areas
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
A good meal cooking and the ocean
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, Security, My Bed
