Sports
Sports

Funeral services for SW DeKalb's Tanks set for Saturday

Michael Tanks starred at Southwest DeKalb in the early 1980s and became head coach of his alma mater in 2013.

Credit: Todd Holcomb

Credit: Todd Holcomb

Michael Tanks starred at Southwest DeKalb in the early 1980s and became head coach of his alma mater in 2013.
By Todd Holcomb
Aug 12, 2016

Funeral services for Southwest DeKalb head football coach Michal Tanks will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Saint Philip AME Church in Atlanta. A viewing will be today at Levett & Sons Funeral Home in Decatur.

Tanks, who was 48, passed away Aug. 3 after suffering a stroke at his home nine days earlier. A former All-America center at Florida State, Tanks was a Southwest DeKalb alumnus who replaced his former coach, Buck Godfrey, as head coach in 2013.

Class AAAAA Southwest DeKalb has not officially named an interim head coach. The team canceled its Saturday scrimmage against Carver in Columbus. The team's season opener is Aug. 20 against Redan at Godfrey Stadium.

Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.

About the Author

Todd Holcomb
More Stories

Keep Reading

Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller (52) is expected to lead an elite Bulldogs defensive front this season. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / AJC

Georgia leaning on top-ranked SEC defense, Alabama, LSU much improved

Georgia looks to have the top overall defense in the SEC, but plenty of other SEC teams have acquired enough firepower through the portal to challenge

Gray, Howard to represent Dream on Team Collier in WNBA All-Star Game

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray and forward Rhyne Howard will play in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game on July 19 in Indianapolis.

Hillmon heats up and Dream lock in: 3 takeaways from win vs. Valkyries.

Hillmon’s breakout shooting performance — backed by elite interior work from Jones and Griner — flipped momentum in the game.

The Latest

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) reacts after scoring on a double by Marcell Ozuna during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Alexandra Rodriguez)

Credit: AP

Atlanta TV sports listings

Sports Daily: A helluva hire?

Gray, Howard to represent Dream on Team Collier in WNBA All-Star Game

Featured

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, seen here in a file photo from Nov. 14, 2024, is conducting a statewide audit of voter registrations targeting registrations at businesses and P.O. boxes for possible cancelation. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

New Georgia election audit targets voters registered at P.O. boxes and businesses

Georgia election officials are trying to find inaccurate voter registrations of people registered at P.O. boxes or business addresses.

Rent an apartment, or just a bedroom, at this new Atlanta skyscraper

Amid rising costs and changing lifestyles, Society Atlanta offers a co-living model designed to shake up traditional apartments.

DISPATCH

In Georgia’s melon mecca, watermelon wizards’ ears are sweetly attuned

In the heart of Georgia's watermelon country, everyone has a trick to tell if a melon is ripe. One way is the sound a melon makes when it is thumped. Or better, patted.