Served as Principal and Head Football coach at Buford High School ... Initial squad (1946) posted Buford's first undefeated season going 11-0 ... 1954 squad was State runner-up ... His 1957 team played the first game in the stadium on Hill Street now behind the Buford Community Center... Football record at Buford was 92-46-5 ... Also served as Head Basketball and Baseball coach while at BHS ... Buford basketball teams went to the State Tournament in 13 or the 14 seasons he coached ... Selected as the Star Teacher at Buford High in 1959 and again in 1960. New Stadium named in his honor in 1990. Inducted into the Buford Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 2006.

Coach Ed Cochran came to Buford in 1973 and remained a part of the school/athletic department until 1999.  He served as the head football coach from 1973 until 1991.  Coach Cochran took the football program to tremendous heights, making a name for Buford Football in the '70s and '80s.  During his long tenure he won 10 region championships,  two Semifinal appearances, ('80 and '82), a State Runner Up ('76), and the first State Championship in School history in 1978, defeating Charlton County 7-6 on an icy cold December night.   This was not only the schools first State Championship, but the first football State Championship in Gwinnett County.   Coach Cochran saw many, many changes and improvements at Buford in his 26 years.  The high school moved three times, Tom Riden stadium was built, as was the state of the art Field House in 1997.  

Coach Dexter Wood was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame on May 30, 2015. Coach Wood was a head football coach for 30 years, his last 21 years in the state of Georgia. His career record was 257 wins, 92 losses, and 3 ties. His state of Georgia record was 210 wins, 52 losses, and 2 ties. While coaching at Lassiter, Marietta, and Buford High Schools, his teams won 3 state championships, 2 state runner-up titles, 10 region championships, and 7 state semifinals. During his time at Buford High School, his teams won 118 games and had only 17 losses in ten seasons. Coach Wood’s Buford football team broke the Georgia High School Association’s state record for most consecutive wins at 47 over a four-season period. Other honors for Coach Wood include the Atlanta Journal and Constitution State Coach of the Year 4 times, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association North-South All Star Head Coach and Assistant Coach, Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Georgia-Florida Coach and the 2002 winner of the Shorty Doyle Award. During his football career, Coach Wood also served as the Athletic Director for his respective schools. He has been President of the Georgia Athletic Directors Association, served on the Board of Directors, and was chosen as the State Athletic Director of the Year. Coach Wood’s record and awards speak for themselves, but his character, ethics, and dedication to the young people he coached is without equal. Many lives have been impacted forever by Coach Dexter Wood’s leadership and standard of excellence and he has made great contributions to the Buford legacy.

Coach Simpson came to Buford as an assistant with Head Coach Dexter Wood in 1995.  He spent time as Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator as well as Strength and Conditioning coordinator up until becoming Head Coach in 2004.  He went 12-0 in his first two seasons, falling to a tough Charlton County team each time in the third round.  That all changed in 2007 when Charlton County was defeated and eventually won the State Championship in the last home State Championship game against Lovett (the game was moved to the Georgia Dome starting in 2008). That started an unprecedented era of success. State Championships in 08, 09, and 10 (all against Calhoun) tied a GHSA record for consecutive State Championships at 4.  That was followed by a State Runner Up in 2011, then three more State Championships in 12 (vs. St. Pius), 13 (vs. Washington Co., and 14 (vs. St. Pius). And finally two State Runner Ups in 15 and 16.  That brought his total to an unprecedented 10 consecutive State Championship Appearances.    Coach Simpson left Buford in December 2016 to become the Defensive Line coach at Georgia State, and eventually jobs with the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Hurricanes.  Coach Simpson oversaw the expansion of the Field House and Team Room, the Construction of the Matrix Board, Field Turf installation on practice fields, and many, many other legacies that has helped make Buford what it is today.   He left with a 164-12 record, 10 Region Championships, and 7 State Championships (which ties him with Nick Hyder for third-most in state history) 

Coach John Ford was hired in January 2017.  He came to Buford from Roswell High School where he had reached the State Championship in back-to-back years in the state's highest classification.  In both years he was head coach, Buford won Region Championships.  In 2017, Buford reached the Semifinals and in 2018, reached the quarterfinals.  In both seasons, the Wolves were defeated by the eventual State Champion (Rome '17, Bainbridge '18).  

Coach Bryant Appling was named head coach in January 2019.  Coach Appling was initially hired as an assistant coach by Coach Dexter Wood in 2004.  Over his years as an assistant, he served as Defensive Coordinator as well as Strength and Conditioning Coordinator.  In his first year as head coach he led Buford to a State Championship, while having to play three rounds of the state playoffs on the road (Ware County, Carrollton, and Jones County).  The playoff run culminated with a thrilling last-second score and overtime victory against Warner Robins.  In the following year, Buford was elevated to Class 6A, the state's second-largest classification. On top of that, in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Coach Appling led Buford to another State Championship appearance.  The State Championship game, against Lee County, resulted in another last-second touchdown and overtime victory.  Coach Appling is the first coach in school history, in any sport, to win a state championship in his first year(s) as head coach. Also, Coach Appling oversaw the move of the High School to its present location.  

Gene Kimbro was the Voice of the Wolves for home football games for over 40 years.

Relive the proud tradition of the Wolves as we flashback to the great players and memorable plays in Buford history.

Dwayne Cash - Inducted in the inaugural Buford Hall of Fame Class of 2006. Three sport star from 1974-77 and All-state end in football. Signed a baseball scholarship to Middle Georgia.

Tracy Cohron - Inducted in inaugural Buford Hall of Fame Class of 2006. Three sport star in football, basketball, and baseball from 1974-77. State athlete of the year in 1977. Signed a football scholarship to Ga Tech.

Tyrone Sorrells - Inducted in inaugural Buford Hall of Fame Class of 2006. Three sport star in football, basketball, and track from 1979-82. High school All-American end in football. Signed football scholarship to Georgia.

Bryce Cantrell - Inducted in inaugural Buford Hall of Fame Class of 2006. Two sport star in football and track from 1981-84. Football All-state running back for three years. Signed football scholarship to Western Carolina.

Tim Wansley - Three sport star in football, basketball, and track from 1993-97. All-state DB in football, State champ in track 100 meter dash. Signed football scholarship to Georgia.

P.K. Sam - Three sport star in football, basketball, and track from 1999-2001. All-state receiver in football and state champ in track hurdles. Signed football scholarship to FSU.

Lorne Sam - Two sport star in football and track from 1999-2002. All-state QB in football and as QB led Wolves to the 2001 football state championship. Signed football scholarship to FSU.

Trey Chandler - Football offensive tackle star from 2000-03. All-state OL and won two state championships in football in 2001 and 2002. Signed football scholarship to Georgia. Signed football scholarship to Georgia.

Mikey Henderson - Two sport star in football and track from 2000-03. All state football receiver, won two football state championships, and a track state championship. Signed football scholarship to Georgia.

Darius Walker - Football running back star from 2001-2004. State football player of the year in 2003. Signed football scholarship to Notre Dame.

Neil Brown - Football lineman star from 2001-2004. Two-time all-state lineman and won three state football championships. Signed football scholarship to Auburn.

Kyle Manley - Football QB star from 2001-04. All state QB in 2003 and won three state championships for the Wolves. Signed football scholarship to Ga. Tech.

Zach Smith - Football LB/running back star from 2001-04. All state LB in 2003 and won three football state championships. Signed football scholarship to Duke.

Thor Merrow - Football DE/TE star from 2002-05. All state DE in 2003 and 2004 and won three football state championships. Signed football scholarship to West Virginia.

Brett Richards - Three sport star in football, basketball, and baseball from 1993-97. Was inducted into Buford Athletics Hall of Fame in Class of 2012 and an All-state TE in 1996.