Tons of opportunity stand before Tom Flugum, the former Sprayberry defensive coordinator named head football coach at Wheeler three months ago. It's his first head coaching job, and he'll draw on five seasons of experience as an assistant at Lassiter, seven at Kennesaw Mountain and one at Sprayberry before replacing Paul Lombardo at Wheeler.

With opportunity, however, come challenges. And Flugum, 42, a former police officer before getting into coaching, shared his thoughts on those with the AJC:

> On seeking the school's second winning season in the past 11 years: "I want to create a culture where winning is the expectation. I want these guys to expect to win or compete every time they go out on the field. They've got the grit; they just need a little direction."

> On replacing prolific running back Corey Tower: "We've got A.J. Washington and some other really good skill kids back there, and we're going to spread the ball out into the hands of a lot of guys who can move it."

> On learning the ropes of head coaching: "There are so many things pulling at you that aren't even football related, things that take up your time. As I've prepared for this, I've taken a lot of notes and have watched other [head] guys and have seen how they stayed organized. Seems to me, the best thing you can do is stay simple."

> On matching Wheeler's region championship of 2006, the Wildcats' first since 1997: "A lot of these kids still feel attached to that championship because they were freshmen or sophomores that season. I think they feel they can do something big like that again if they put their minds to it."

> On kinship with the Northside's slew of other new coaches, including Kell's Derek Cook, Lassiter's Chip Lindsey, Pope's Matt Kemper, Northview's Jim Showfety and Roswell's Leo Barker: "There's some comfort knowing there are that many other guys new to what they're doing, too. You don't feel like you're the only guy in this position. It's going to be an interesting year to see who can get connected first."