Brett Phipps: West Forsyth High School

What does it take to build one of the nation's most successful high school athletic departments?In this episode of Building a Champion, we sit down with Brett Phipps, Athletic Director at West Forsyth High School (GA), to discuss the leadership principles behind sustained success. From the Wolverines' girls soccer team capturing its fourth state championship in six years to multiple state titles across several sports, Brett shares why winning is never the primary focus—and why developing better people always is.Learn how West Forsyth's Leadership Academy is shaping hundreds of student-athletes, why culture always outweighs talent, and how focusing on accountability, character, and relationships creates championship programs year after year.Whether you're a coach, athletic director, educator, or sports leader, this episode is packed with practical leadership lessons that extend far beyond the scoreboard.Chapter Markers00:00 Why West Forsyth Doesn't Talk About Winning 01:13 Introducing Brett Phipps & West Forsyth's Championship Success 02:11 Building a Nationally Elite Girls Soccer Program 09:39 Sustaining Excellence Across Multiple Sports 12:00 Hiring Coaches & Creating the Right Culture 17:01 Managing Expectations Without Adding Pressure 18:57 The Leadership Academy & Developing Better People 20:25 Four State Championships in Four Days 22:21 Building Leaders Beyond Athletics 27:26 Better People Make Better Wolverines 33:43 What Brett Hopes Every Athlete Remembers 37:03 The Future of West Forsyth Athletics 40:03 Advice for Future Athletic Directors 46:53 Game Time Decisions