Gainesville High School had big shoes to fill after the head boys’ basketball coach Charles “Kelly” Beckham retired following the 2020-21 season. Throughout his career, Beckham racked up a total of 798 wins and 339 losses, five Final Four appearances, three State Runner-up titles, and one FHSAA State Championship.
 
Having coached at various high schools in Florida, Beckham spent the majority of his career at Bronson and Gainesville high schools. During his 24-year tenure at Bronson, Beckham accumulated 506 wins and then took his legacy to Gainesville. From 2008 to 2021, Beckham collected four District Championships, four Regional Semifinal finishes, three Regional Finalists, a Final Four appearance, a State Runner-up title, and a State Championship. Beckham’s tradition at every school he coached at was winning.
 
A member of the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches Court of Legends, Beckham has been named Coach of the Year several times by the Florida Dairy Farmers and the Gainesville Sun. He served as a two-term member of the FHSAA Basketball Advisory Committee and as a guest speaker for numerous clinics hosted by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches, and the Mid-Florida Officials Association.
 
Not only was Beckham known for winning, but his teams had a reputation of earning the top-grade point averages on campus. He coached young student-athletes to become exceptional young men on and off the court.