By Kyle Roberts
ATLANTA — For nearly a century, the Hunt family’s connection to Georgia Tech has stretched across generations, sports and careers.
Now, the tradition is continuing once again.
Alexander Trotter Hunt V recently joined the Yellow Jackets football program, becoming the fifth consecutive Alexander Trotter Hunt from Ruston to compete in athletics at Georgia Tech.
That’s right: the fifth consecutive Alexander Trotter Hunt.
The family legacy began with Hunt V’s great-great-grandfather, Alexander Trotter Hunt I, whose older brother Stewart first attended Georgia Tech during the late 1910s before Hunt I followed and played football for the Yellow Jackets during the early years of the program. Since then, five generations of Hunts — all sharing the same name — have competed for Georgia Tech in football or basketball.
“We are very proud,” Alexander Trotter Hunt IV said. “I would say it’s a little surreal.”
The young(est) Alex just finished his playing career for Ruston High School, appearing in four straight state championship games in as many years for the Bearcats.
For Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key, the story carries special meaning because of his own relationship with the family.
“That’s why it was so special to me,” Key said. “When you’re an alumni here like I am, and obviously Alex’s father and I played together here, and knowing his legacy, then to be able to be a part of extending that generational legacy here at Georgia Tech with the Hunt family, that was just really, really a cool thing as an alumni.”
Key and Hunt IV were teammates at Georgia Tech during the 1990s, when Hunt IV earned a scholarship after originally joining the program without one. The Yellow Jackets finished No. 9 nationally during his senior season and defeated Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.
“It seems like just a couple years ago, but it was many moons ago,” Key said with a laugh.
Hunt IV said the family never pressured younger generations into continuing the tradition.
“I never felt like it was destined or had to be or was mandated, but it is really cool this worked out,” Hunt IV said.
Hunt V said Georgia Tech ultimately became the right fit after visiting campus and spending time with Key and compared Key’s leadership style to Ruston High coach Jerrod Baugh.
“I knew (right after I talked to Coach Key) that this was the spot for me,” Hunt V said. “
Key said his recruiting approach centered on making sure Hunt V chose Georgia Tech for himself and not simply because of family history.
“I wanted him to be here because he wanted to be here,” Key said. “I wanted him to be here because he felt like he could have value here and create value for himself as being part of our program.”
Key said Hunt V had strongly considered another school before visiting Atlanta earlier this year.
“When we sat down here in my office, it was one of those things like, ‘OK, this is my one shot here to get this thing done,’” Key said.
The connection between the Hunts and Georgia Tech goes well beyond football.
Hunt III played basketball for the Yellow Jackets in the 1970s, while generations of the family also earned engineering and business degrees from the university. Beyond athletics, Hunt III said their time in Atlanta helped broaden the family’s perspective while still strengthening ties to Ruston.
“I really think, as far as business-wise, we had some good fortune in business, and I think leaving this relatively small town, Ruston, to go to Atlanta, which was a big city … and learning to maneuver your way through all that, had been very helpful,” Hunt III said.
Even after living elsewhere, the family repeatedly returned home to North Louisiana. Hunt IV lived in Montana and Nashville before eventually moving back to Ruston in 2008.
Now, Hunt V hopes to continue both traditions — in Georgia Tech and in Ruston.
“I definitely think I want to have kids here and have them go to Ruston High because we have such a long family history there,” Hunt V said.
After Hunt V informed Key of his decision to join the program, Hunt IV said his phone rang almost immediately afterward.
“I answered and Brent shouted, ‘And he’ll yell To hell with Georgia like his daddy used to do!’” Hunt IV said, referencing a line from the Georgia Tech fight song.
For Hunt IV, the moment reflected both Key’s passion for Georgia Tech and his excitement about welcoming another Hunt into the program.
“Brent is a passionate, dedicated coach,” Hunt IV said. “He had plenty of opportunities to leave Georgia Tech during this last season.”
The family’s Georgia Tech pipeline could still continue into another generation someday.
Hunt IV recalled telling Key that Hunt V’s younger brother, Holt, had already asked whether he might someday have the same opportunity.
“If I’m here, hell yeah,” Key replied.
And if, perhaps, one day there’s an Alexander Trotter Hunt VI?
Probably a good idea to go ahead and draw up the letter at Georgia Tech’s admissions office.
