Brian Shay
Athletic Director and PE Teacher
pe@grace-school.net

Coach Shay is a graduate of the University of Dayton with a B.S. in Elementary Education and Marygrove College with a Master’s degree in The Art of Teaching. He also completed his Administrative Degree from the University of Dayton. Coach Shay spent over twenty years in Ohio as a classroom teacher, coach, athletic director and an administrative leader.

In 2010, he was called to leave the education field behind and travel north to Wisconsin to work at Rawhide, a Christian boys’ ranch for troubled teens. After one year, God lead him to Virginia where he spent two years as middle school math teacher in Henrico County Public Schools.

Coach Shay is ardent about seeing people of all ages growing in their relationship with the Lord, experiencing a heart transformation and applying God’s principles to their lives. His personal motto is, “it’s not just about knowing, it is about DOING. It’s not enough to know the will of the Father, it is about living it.” Coach Shay, his wife Angela, and their daughter Ainsley, are members of Fairmount Christian Church.

Susan Cole
Soccer Coach

Coach Cole has been playing soccer since she was eight years old. She has coached younger recreational and travel soccer teams for many years as well as organizing and conducting soccer training camps and summer conditioning weeks. Playing recreational, travel, school, and collegiate soccer, Coach Cole has experienced many different coaching styles, techniques and mentalities which have come to shape her own. She also was a certified referee for ten years making her confident with the technicalities of the sport. Coach Cole is excited to embark on the adventure of developing a competitive soccer program at GCS. The only expectations from coach are to be prepared, work as a team, demonstrate respect, and put God first on and off the field. Ms. Cole is a member of Area 10 Faith Community.

Amy Martin
Cross Country Coach

Coach Martin has years of cross country experience as a former volunteer with the Lee-Davis High School Cross Country and Track teams. She was also an assistant cross country coach at Heritage Christian School for two years. In 2017, Coach Martin joined the GCS Cross Country coaching staff. Believing not only in the value of the health and fitness benefits one can gain from cross country, Coach Martin also sees the opportunity cross country provides for encouraging teammates to reach their personal goals. She wants to see athletes grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and to show Christ to others through team encouragement. Mrs. Martin and her family are members of Harvest Christian Fellowship.

Todd Martin
Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach

Coach Martin is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University with a B.S. in Business. While at EMU,  he was a starter for the basketball team, and later coached the EMU women’s basketball team for one year before moving to Mechanicsville.  Coach Martin has been married to his wife, Amy, for 24 years.  They have been blessed with four children, Jordan, Nate, Cassie, and Drew.  While being a father, he has had multiple opportunities to coach through Mechanicsville Little League, Hanover Youth Basketball, Upwards Basketball, and Upwards Flag Football. 

Coach Martin is passionate about the game of basketball and teaching young people the fundamentals to be successful on and off the court.  Above all else, he wants to see people come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior and to help nurture their relationship with Him. 

Coach Martin is employed by Eagle Home Mortgage as a Branch Manager and has been in the mortgage industry for 25 years.  He enjoys playing basketball, golfing, and playing games of all kinds.  He and his family are active members of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Mechanicsville.

Mary Catherine Piland
Middle School Girls Cheerleading Coach

Mrs. Piland is a lifelong resident of Hanover County. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a Master of Teaching Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also completed the course work for a Gifted and Talented Endorsement from the University of Virginia.
Before starting her family, she was a classroom teacher with Hanover County Public Schools. Mrs. Piland is a former cheerleader and gymnast with many years of experience. In her free time she enjoys physical fitness, singing, musicals, fishing, baking, and watching college basketball. She and her husband have two children. Mrs. Piland is a member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Angie Vaughn
Middle School and High School Varsity Boys and Girls Volleyball Coach

Mrs. Vaughan is a lifelong resident of Hanover County.  She studied at VCU in the Arts program, and recently received an Associate's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. Mrs. Vaughan has been a substitute teacher for Liberty Christian School for several years, and has been a substitute teacher for Grace Christian School since November 2013.  She and her husband, Phil, have three children, Nick, Nathan, and Alyssa.  Mrs. Vaughan and her family are active members at Gethsemane Church of Christ, where she sings on the praise team and in the choir. She is passionate about volleyball and is thankful for the opportunity to coach the girls' volleyball teams. Her hobbies are gardening, singing, drawing, painting, and reading.