Coach GW was born and raised in Fredericksburg, VA and built his foundation as a competitive distance runner through junior high, high school, and college. A 1991 graduate of Christopher Newport University, he was inducted into the CNU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Post-collegiately, he continued competing as a distance runner, achieving personal bests of 1:08:13 in the half-marathon and 2:25:10 in the marathon.

After retiring from competition in 1999, he served as a chaplain to athletes and coaches at both the 1999 USA Track & Field World Championships Trials and the 2000 Olympic Trials. From 1999 to 2006, he coached high school cross-country and track and field in San Diego, CA, where his athletes earned multiple CIF Championships.

Since 2022, Coach GW has expanded his work with youth athletes through flag and tackle football coaching. In Spring 2025, he joined 813 Elite, bringing decades of experience, leadership, and a passion for developing athletes of all ages.