Prep Zone

By slivey

February 20, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

The hiring of John Reid over at East Paulding was one of the best hires in recent memory. He has went 24-3 since his arrival in spring of 06. The hires you mention above are impossible to evaluate without having even one season at thier new schools.

By Mike

February 20, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Did anyone notice the photograper’s name in the first region game photo of the kid from Wheeler dunking?

By ABCD

February 20, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

Union Grove has named Steve Collins as head football coach (formerly of Stockbridge).

By slalom1

February 20, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

To: TODD HOLCOMB, Obviously Rush Propst is the BIG take. National recognition, proven winner, etc. (although, he comes with an *). A better topic might be…”Which Georgia high school coaches would be tempted to bolt for a new opportunity?” I can think of a few. I am still interested in hearing thoughts on the “transfer” issue. Although, it seems that no one else is.

By Gwinnetian

February 21, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

The job at Mountain View is going to be a gold mine in Gwinnett County. They will progress at the speed of Peachtree Ridge.

By indianfan

February 21, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Everyone expects instant results in this day and time. Not every school is going to win consistently. The pro and college mentality of “must win” is going to do nothing but increase the “fruit basket turnover” in Georgia’s high school ranks. We are fortunate at Stephens County to have gone out of state and found “a real winner”. Travis Noland is 31-5 in three years with what some consider average talent.

By Todd Holcomb

February 21, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

Hawkinsville has promoted Cam Black to replace Lee Campbell. I think that’s 40 hires, 35 openings still out there.

Slalom1: We broached the transfer subject a bit last week, but you were AWOL. It’s certainly a factor in why some schools have been loaded w/ college signees, but as last week’s blog noted, some of the schools w/ the most signees aren’t necessarily winning.

By devil fan

February 22, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

In selecting a high school coach one of the most important things is to hire someone that can teach football and how to become men. The problem is that most “adult” fans of high school football want to win at all costs but if coaches can teach their players teamwork, doing what’s right not what’s easy and how to become a man that is more important than anything else. People need to understand that only a small percentage of high school players are going to play at the next level and scholarship and ‘man’ skills are more important than just football skills. A large number of players have only male coaches and teachers as role models on how to become a man. High school teams men of integrity coaching their teams. At Columbus High we have had a great coaching staff the past 7 years that teaches not only football but life skills. I know since I have had a leasat one son involved in the program each of those 7 years. While our record may not be the best I have seen several use football to allow them to continue their educations. Others could have used football but they chose to use performance in the classroom to pay their way to college. I have watched our coaches teach the players to be respectful of adults, to have manners and to use the work ethic obtained on the football field to help them make it through tough times in the classroom.

By GA Buckeye

February 22, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

I don’t know the whole story, but last I heard, MAys former coach, jesse Solomon was still available. Based on the news reports, I can’t conclude that the Atlanta Public Schools made the right decision to suspend him for not disclosing that he was exonerated of an investigation while in Florida. I think he proved he can win, develop players and develop young men at Mays. Should be worthy of consideration. Atlanta Public Schools have not been known for knowing what the hell they are doing when it comes to coaches and athletics.

By slalom1

February 22, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

To: Todd Holcomb, You are right, I was “AWOL”. Hate it. Now that your blog is up and running again, I will make a committment to log in each week,(if not every day). I must say that this particular subject has small parameters for debate. How about this topic: “Coaches who should be replaced?” Dadgum, I sure miss the high school football season!

By Oinkskin

February 24, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this

I know there are those in Paulding Co who wish they had passed on a coach who doesn’t “play well with others” and had to be officially reprimanded (suspended) for handling a player. Regardless of record, Coach Reid brought a truckload of other problems. Going with some you know can save an awful lot of headaches and still be successful. McEachern made a wise choice and investment.

By flip

February 24, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this

It is probably the worst year in a long time to be changing coaches. It is difficult to find a great coach willing to move in a housing market that is tough to find a buyer. If your coach is a quality coach and a leader of men better stick with him. Get rid of the guys that cheat and don’t have integrity whether they win or not.

By frank

February 25, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

What about the Douglass job. I know Cantrell announced he isn’t returning. Any word on who the new head man will be? Thats a big program to take over, and they might be moving down in class in 2010.

By slalom1

February 25, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this

To: TODD HOLCOMB, As to the question,”How would you choose a coach?” 1-A coach that can identify with today’s youth. 2-A coach who can generate interest in the community. 3-A coach who understands the game as it is today. 4-A coach(I hate to say this, but it is true), who can make the most out of the budget that he is given. 5-A coach who sets an example of being a winner, not only on the field, but in life. It all gets back to, “if you build it, they will come.”.

By hsfootballref

February 25, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this

The first thing I would look for in a coach is how do his players perform? Are they fundamentally sound? do they block? do they tackle? do they improve from one practice to the next, 1 game to the next, one season to the next?

Do his players play hard every play? How does he handle it when players don’t? Football is a team sport. How would he handle a superstar with an attitude problem? A star player with academic problems?

How does he handle parents who think their son should be getting more time than he did last year, or is getting now?

How does a coach work with not only the sub-varsity at the high school level, but the youth feeder programs as well?

If I am hiring for a program in a down period, how does he plan to build success, not just next year, but for years to come?

If my program is already successful, how does he plan to not only stay at that level but improve upon it.

If a coach develops the talent that he has, and a program that will continue to provide talent in the future, the wins will come.

Unfortunately, not many coaches are given the chance to develop those programs over the long haul anymore.

I see an awful lot of kids who have outstanding athletic ability, but are sorely lacking in the fundamental skills of playing the game. The pressure on coaches to produce wins now, forces them to sacrifice the ability to develop talent.

Say what you will, but football at the high school level is still about player development- not only in athletic skills but character as well. Too often coaches are forced into making choices to win today as opposed to what is best for the player, the team or the program over the long term.

Something is wrong when there are this many coaches making a voluntary decision to leave coaching all together. And then to compound the situation by hiring the hotshot coach from out of state who has no ties to the community or the state but had success for a couple of years in another state.

Something tells me these schools will be searching for another coach in a couple more years when the team didn’t win enough, and the program is in no better (or perhaps worse) shape than it was when he got here.

By coach watcher

February 26, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Clayton County is just rotating coaches, and in the face of the SACS investigation, and the possibility of losing good atheletes you would think there were better hiring decisions. One day someone in the Clayton County school system will care about winning in football. Or the parents will start holding someone’s feet to the fire.

By slalom1

February 26, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

The “Transfer issue” keeps coming to mind. What about coaches who actively recruit players? Are they setting the right example? Hypothetically, should a head coach “recruit” a roster of players from a large school district, who happen to win championships, is this good coaching? Does it send the right message to these high school kids? Getting back to the original topic, give me a head coach who gets the best out of what he has, without recruiting players from the same district.

By slalom1

March 17, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this

To:hsfootballref…. Your words are worth repeating, and hopefully being taken in by the powers to be in GHS football. What are your views on high school recruiting? Is this good for the sport?In some counties, anyone can play for any school in the county, regardless of the district they may live in.(Provided they can handle their own transportation to the school of their choice.) Something about this smells bad to me. What do you think?