The Columbus Lions lit the first spark, announcing local business owner, longtime coach, and community leader Corry Black as the franchise’s new General Manager. Black is no stranger to shaping winners—on the field, in the classroom, or across the country. Currently serving as the Dean of Scholars at Emmanuel Prep School of Math and Science, Black mentors Pre-K through 8th-grade students with the same commitment and leadership that have defined his athletic career. Impressively, he will continue in that role while stepping into his new front-office seat with the Lions.
This announcement followed another major shift in the organization: the team’s new Majority Owner, Roger Beck, a name synonymous with Columbus sports. Both Beck and Black have built deep ties throughout the local athletic landscape, coaching generations of youth and high school athletes and earning reputations as builders of both talent and character.
Black’s résumé runs deep. For over 20 years he has owned and operated CB Hoops, a company known nationwide for developing athletes and hosting some of the most competitive basketball showcases in the region. His annual Corry Black Classic, held in Atlanta, is a premier jamboree that draws players and coaches from across the southeast. Beyond the events, Black has shaped an entire network of mentors, trainers, and athletes—many of whom have gone on to successful high school, college, and professional careers. Columbus also knows him well from his time as Athletic Director and state championship-winning head boys’ basketball coach at Pacelli High School. His tenure there helped cement Pacelli’s place among Georgia’s top basketball programs, and his return to local leadership with the Lions feels less like a hire and more like a homecoming.
As General Manager, Black will help lead the Lions’ rapidly expanding front office, working closely with ownership while providing full support to the coaching staff led by Lions Hall of Famer and Head Coach Damian Daniels. With championships in 2010, 2015, 2016, 2023, and 2024, the Lions remain one of the most successful franchises in arena football history. Their next chapter begins April 16 when they kick off their inaugural season in the American Arena League, facing the Tri-City River Gators.
But the gridiron spotlight didn’t shine on the Lions alone—because just down the highway, another dynasty added another trophy. The Pacelli Lady Vikings claimed their fourth straight state championship, dominating Mount de Sales Academy 20–0 in a near-flawless title performance. From the opening whistle, Pacelli controlled every inch of the field, executing with the confidence of a championship program and the hunger of a team still chasing more…