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DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: Coolest new coaches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are 69 new football head coaches in Georgia. Here are the 10 that jump out to me - five in metro Atlanta and five outside metro Atlanta. I don’t know every new coach in Georgia yet, so if I’ve missed a good one, tell me about it.
Best hires in metro Atlanta
Jeff Measor, Centennial: All I know about Measor is that he’s young (29) that he was Coffee’s offensive coordinator and that he beat out more than 250 applicants for a job that is prized for its booster club and fan support. No reason Centennial can’t become a contender in that area.
Bill Ballard, Peachtree Ridge: Ballard was 53-8 in his five seasons at Tucker, but expectations will be high after the state championship, so Peachtree Ridge isn’t the easiest job in town.
Bill Hobbs, Union Grove: Hobbs comes from Cypress Grove in Florida, where he took his team to the playoffs in the school’s fifth season. Hobbs’ defensive coordinator at Cypress, Frank Hepler, is the new coach at newly opened West Forsyth.
Dennis Roland, Central Gwinnett: While at North Gwinnett in 2004, the Bulldogs improved to 9-3 from 2-8 in Roland’s only season. He is taking the head coaching job at Southeast Louisiana State.
Franklin Stephens, Tucker: One of the state’s more highly regarded assistants, the former defensive coordinator at Camden and star player at Georgia Southern gets his first head job. Tucker is loaded this season, so there’s pressure to win big right away.
Best hires outside metro Atlanta
Blair Armstrong, Banks County: The former Peachtree Ridge coach has suffered only two losing seasons in his 26 years as head coach, and he’s never taken a job at an established program. Banks County last had a winning record in 1997.
Charles Flowers, Dougherty: Flowers, who averaged 12 victories in his last seven seasons at Shaw, returns to coaching at sleeping giant Dougherty.
Brent Miller, Elbert County: Miller, formerly of Chamblee, is 106-76-1 in 17 seasons at schools that don’t otherwise win. No reason Elbert shouldn’t be a perennial region contender.
Eric Parker, Burke County: Parker came to Laney in 1997 when the school hadn’t won a playoff game since 1966. Laney won 11 playoff games in his last seven seasons in Augusta. Now he’s at Burke, which has all the pieces to become a state power.
Bradley Warren, Gilmer: From Central Gwinnett, where he was 24-11 the past three seasons in one of the state’s premier regions, Warren returned to the country to find Gilmer. He’s from Dade County and feels closer to home in more ways than one.
Go on. Take Ten. Who do you think will have the biggest impact? Send us your list of the state’s top 10 coaches taking the reins at new schools this season.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
Comments
By Tommy Smith
June 29, 2007 5:29 AM | Link to this
North Atlanta has a new Coach.Coach C.Thomas have the warriors on the right road.
By Ricky Gross
June 29, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Ballard’s got his hands full at Peachtree Ridge. Not only is he taking over a defending state champion, but he’s going to have to do so without his top assistant from Tucker. He’s going to be lost without Bud King.
By Camden Boy
June 29, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
Coach Stephens Is Gonna Work Them Tucker Boys.. Im Just Sad He Left My Senior Season, Probly One Of The Smartest Individuals I Know.. He Can Get A Team Motivated, And He Just Simply Knows How To Break The Opponent.
By ballardsucks
June 29, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this
yeah. about ballard having his hands full… from what i have heard, half of the Varsity football team at peachtree ridge has quit due to ballard becoming head coach.
By we will see
June 30, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this
Balllard will be fine. Bub could have coached some of those teams at Tucker. He should have won at least one state championship. At Tucker, Ballard only had to play one game a year which was Marist. Peachtree will win because of talent and great assistant coaches. Ballard will choke in big games just like he did at the Tuck.
By FIUpantherMOM
June 30, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
NOW IN GEORGIA!!!
SunshinePreps, a site long known for helping get kids to colleges at all levels in Florida, expanded into Texas a couple of years ago. Now, they are bringing their stuff to the Peach State. These guys work very, very closely with colleges at the D-I, D-IAA, D-II, and D-III levels by providing them with top notch video and contact information on players of all skill levels. I am living proof that it works, as my son and 3 of his teammates were discovered by FIU by seeing their film on SunshinePreps. Any player or coach of a player who has film can send it in. They don’t have to have highlight film (and prefer not to have it). They edit game film and highlight the player in question. Check out their website at www.SunshinePreps.net and see for yourself. And….send in your tapes to Sunshine Preps P.O. Box 639 Cassville, GA 30123 ATTN: Darby. BELIEVE ME….THEY ARE GOOD!!
By tj
July 3, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
How about Jay Walls from Tift county. Tift County didn’t make to play-off’s for about 5 years in a row until he show’s up and the first year we make it to the first round of the play-off’s and lose to the First place team out of 2-AAAAA Stephenson 3-6, and then last year we make it to the Dome. Not to mention we’re undefeated at home for the 2 years he’s been at Tift County anyway, I would like to give the man some credit. Good Job Jay Walls keep up the good work.
By Fletch
July 8, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
Bill Malone will eventually get Morgan Co. deep in the play-offs. Very good coach and even a better person.