Filipe Gonçalves began his basketball career as a student-athlete at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in 2011, when he left his home in Franca, Sao Paulo, Brazil to join the Hawks Boys Basketball team here in Chattanooga.

Now his story has come full circle as HHCA Head of School, Chun Shen, named Gonçalves as the new Head coach of the Hamilton Heights Lady Hawks Girls Basketball program.

“After a 2 year hiatus, Lady Hawks Basketball is back and we are extremely excited for Filipe to lead our team back to success,” said Shen. “As we searched for a new head coach to lead our restart, Filipe’s resume as a collegiate and professional player stood out, but what really sealed the deal was his history with our school and his passion to ensure our program and students succeed.”

While at Hamilton Heights, Filipe helped his team become NACA National Champions in 2012.

After graduating, Filipe went on to play at the collegiate level and graduated with a B.S. in Psychology in 2019 from Truett McConnell University. While at Truett McConnell, Filipe helped his team place 2nd in the AAC Conference in 2018 and was named All-Academic in 2018 and 2019.

Filipe then briefly played at the professional level for Liga Sorocabana de Basketball of the NBB in Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil the summer after graduating college.

Afterward, Filipe returned to Chattanooga and currently serves as a Bilingual Social Counselor at the Hamilton County Health Department. He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.

“Hamilton Height Christian Academy is a special place for me, and I am excited to be a part of the HHCA athletics family again.,” Filipe said.

Filipe lives in Hixson with his wife, Abby, who is expecting their first child in May, and their Great Dane, Kobe.