GHSF Daily asked Georgia head coaches to answer these four questions. We'll report from a different head coach each day.
Ken Cofer, Bacon County
1. Who is/was the most influential person in your coaching career? "My dad, Mike Cofer. The countless hours of watching that 8mm film with him at home and preparing for the opponent is what got me hooked. His non-stop work ethic, loyalty and his dedication to the game for 30 years is something I hope to match by the time my career is over. My dad passed away before I started coaching, but coach Ross New was that mentor and guide for me when I got the head job at Cook High School in 2010. God has a way of placing people in our lives to help us along through tough times. I never would have made it without him by my side. Other than my dad, Coach New is the most influential person for me."
2. Who is the best Georgia player you ever faced? "Eric Berry from Creekside [2004] when I was an assistant at Villa Rica. Malkom Parrish from Brooks County the past four years caused me the most headaches. Both are very special players."
3. What is the best team you ever faced as a coach? "Buford 2010. Division I prospects all over the field, disciplined and well-coached. Offensively, their linemen would tell our kids where the ball was going and we still couldn't stop them."
4. If you were Gary Phillips, the new head of the GHSA, what would be the first rule that you would try to change? "Definitely the semifinals back in the Georgia Dome and the state championship games at home stadiums. I'd also research private and public schools having separate state championship games beyond just Class A. I don't want to totally disrespect the private schools, but some of these places have all-star teams. Definitely not a level playing field vs. rural south Georgia, especially in AA ball now."
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