Head coach Bruce Heppler has been the architect of one of college golf’s most consistent powerhouses at Georgia Tech, crafting an exceptional record of success since taking over the reins of the program in 1995.

The Yellow Jackets haven’t missed the NCAA regionals since 1998, an incredible stretch of 27 consecutive berths. The program has advanced to 22 NCAA finals, and claimed four national runner-up finishes as well. Most recently, Tech reached the NCAA semifinals in both 2023 and 2024 — finishing second in 2023 and tying for third in 2024. Remarkably, since 2000, the Jackets have fallen outside the top 10 in the major college golf polls only five times.

But Heppler, who is 65, has announced that he will retire following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

“Georgia Tech is a special place, and to be a part of this school, this athletics department and this historic golf program has been an honor,” Heppler said in a release. “It’s meaningful to me that my career as a head coach, and all of the relationships that come with that, are tied to one place – Georgia Tech.

JOHNSON COUNTY, Texas – Nearly two years after a devastating head-on crash that killed six members of a visiting Georgia family, a Johnson County jury has sentenced 19-year-old Luke Garrett Resecker to 65 years in prison.

The fatal crash and victims

What we know:

The verdict follows a week-long trial in which prosecutors said Resecker was under the influence of marijuana when he crossed into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 67 near County Road 1119 outside Cleburne on December 26, 2023.

Resecker’s Chevy Silverado collided head-on with a Honda Odyssey minivan, killing six of the seven occupants inside.

Those killed were 28-year-old Rushil Barri, 39-year-old Naveena Potabathula, 64-year-old Nageswararao Ponnada, 60-year-old Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 10-year-old Kruthik Potabathula and 9-year-old Nishidha Potabathula.

The lone survivor from the minivan, Lokesh Potabathula, lost his wife, two children, cousin and in-laws in the crash. He survived but was left paralyzed from the waist down.

Resecker’s passenger, 17-year-old Preston Glass, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury that left him mentally impaired. 

Marijuana found in truck

Dig deeper:

Potabathula’s family had recently moved from Plano to Alpharetta, Georgia, returning to North Texas to visit friends over the holidays. Barri, his cousin, had moved from India for graduate studies and was living and working in Irving.

An affidavit and toxicology report showed that THC was present in Resecker’s system at the time of the crash. Troopers also found THC wax, a vape pen, and marijuana inside his truck.

When charges were first filed in early 2024, Resecker faced six counts of intoxication manslaughter, two counts of intoxication assault, and drug-possession charges. Due to injuries from the crash, he was placed on monitored home confinement after posting bond.

Trial and sentencing

Local perspective:

During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Miller invoked each victim’s name, saying:

“Justice for Rushil, Justice for Naveena, Justice for Nageswararao, Justice for Sitamahalakshmi, Justice for Kruthik, Justice for Nishidharaman, and Justice for Lokesh — and justice for this community.”

The district attorney’s office thanked jurors, investigators, and prosecutors for their dedication, calling the case “by no means an easy one.”

The jury ultimately sentenced Resecker to 65 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

A message on reckless driving

What’s next:

The Johnson and Somervell Counties District Attorney’s Office said the case stands as a sobering reminder of the irreversible consequences of impaired and reckless driving.

Assistant District Attorneys Connor Day and Stephanie Miller prosecuted the case.

Mississippi State and Georgia will match up Saturday with one set of Bulldogs looking for bowl eligibility, the other looking to find their way into the College Football Playoff. Brian Hadad welcomes Buck Belue, quarterback of Georgia’s 1980 national championship team and host of the Buck Belue Show on 680 The Fan to the pod for a Bulldog vs. Bulldog preview.