GHSF Daily asked Georgia head coaches to answer these four questions. We'll report from a different head coach each day.
Gary Hughes, East Jackson
1. Who is/was the most influential person in your coaching career?"The most influential person, other than my father, was Coach Tom Freeman. He was a Gulfport, Miss., guy, and he was so sincere and so transparent and spoke with conviction and power even though he was a little guy - about 130 pounds. No one ever doubted for a second his passion for doing things the right way. His sincerity has had a lasting and profound effect some 40 years later."
2. Who is the best Georgia player you ever faced?"Hutson Mason was one of the very best. In a playoff game at Lassiter in 2010, he hung 62 on us after we were up 14-0. Just a great display of confidence in himself and in his team."
3. What is the best team you ever faced as a coach?"The Grayson team of 2011. Robert Nkemdiche and the other guys they had were so talented and could hurt you in every phase of the game. They were well-coached, strong and aggressive. We were a final eight team ourselves that year [at Dacula], and when we played them in the regular season, they were nearly flawless in their execution. They were a dominating team."
4. If you were Gary Phillips, the new head of the GHSA, what would be the first rule that you would try to change?"The sideline rule is the one I'd like to go away. I coach with emotion and I'm all over the place. There are some interpretations from crews that are not the same as the next and that becomes frustrating. I know the point of the rule and I understand it. Just don't like it."
Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.
About the Author
