Riverwood International Charter School welcomed student-athletes back Monday, Aug. 3, with fall sports already in motion and a schedule loaded with early-season action.
The Raiders' cross country team ran its opening time trial at the RICS Track on the first day of school, softball hosts the Battle of Sandy Springs tournament starting Wednesday, Aug. 5, and football eyes a potential season opener against North Springs on Friday, Aug. 21, at Hoskyn Stadium.
Softball: new coach, home tournament
Jason Russo takes over as head softball coach after nearly a decade on the Riverwood staff, according to Riverwood Athletics. Russo began teaching at the school in 2018, coached in the baseball program starting in 2019, and assisted with softball before being named head coach for 2026. He teaches Adapted Physical Education and serves as a Special Olympics Georgia coach.
Russo's first games come quickly.
The Battle of Sandy Springs brings Mount Vernon, Holy Innocents, and North Springs to Riverwood's diamond this week:
- Wednesday, Aug. 5 — Riverwood vs. Mount Vernon, 5 p.m.; Riverwood vs. North Springs, 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 6 — Riverwood vs. Holy Innocents, 3 p.m.
Football: Coffey builds coaching staff
Head coach Josh Coffey brought four players to the Fulton County Schools Football Media Day at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta on Friday, July 24: Beck Smith, Jaden Keys, Tison Fleming, and Jake Kaplan. Smith, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound tight end wearing No. 54, is a Class of 2027 prospect. Principal Kindra Smith, Ed.D., also attended.
The coaching staff features assistant head coach Robert Hicks, a former Mississippi State All-SEC lineman drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft, according to the program's staff announcement. Co-defensive coordinators Chris Wilkerson and Rico Lyons, special teams coordinator Jonathan Beverly, and defensive line coach Reggie Norwood Jr. round out the group. Norwood is a Riverwood alum who played for the Raiders from 2014 to 2017.
MaxPreps opponent schedules point to a Friday, Aug. 21, opener against North Springs at Hoskyn Stadium, though Riverwood had not officially confirmed the date as of late July.
Cross country and fan info
The cross country squad opened its season with a time trial Monday at the RICS Track.
Tickets for fall sports (football, volleyball, softball, and flag football) are available through GoFan, with digital season packages sold by the Riverwood Athletic Association. Home football games at Hoskyn Stadium can be streamed on the NFHS Network.
The first marquee matchup on the calendar: North Springs travels to Hoskyn Stadium on Aug. 21 for what could be the Raiders' football opener.
