GHSF Daily's Four Questions feature historically poses the same questions to a different Georgia head coach each issue. This season, head coaches are being asked Four Questions tailored to current events. Today's interviewee is Johns Creek head coach Matt Helmerich, whose team clinched the Region 7-AAAAAA championship last week with a victory over Alpharetta. Before joining Johns Creek in 2017, Helmerich had been head coach at Fort Pierce Central (Fla.) and was defensive coordinator on four state-championship teams and one national champion at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale.
Matt Helmerich, Johns Creek head coach
1. Johns Creek was 3-7 in your first season and is now a region champion. What's different this year? "When I first got here, we knew replacing 34 seniors and eight transfers would be difficult. We had so many young players that were forced into action. So we went from having just three starters back for the '17 season to only losing three starters for the '18 season. The reps and playing time those young guys got last season are paying dividends. Also, having the kids a full year in our weight program and putting in the offseason time with our staff has made a world of difference. We had the entire winter and spring to install new schemes on both sides of the ball. I've got to compliment my staff as well as we were able to piece together some units in areas we struggled in 2017. Having gotten the idea from Coach [Adam] Clack over at Milton, we split our spring practices into two sessions. Everyone practiced two different positions. So we were able to find some guys that were better at different spots. We have a starting sophomore safety that was a JV wide receiver last year. We have a starting sophomore tackle that was a backup JV DE last year. We've got a backup NG that is now starting at OG. So finding those guys was huge for us. It also helps that we return Zach Gibson, a four-year starting QB who can make any throw, as well as both offensive and defensive lines."
2. You scheduled Washington, D.C., national power St. John's this year that you probably realized was too strong for you at this point. Does it have to do with a long-term outlook on the program? "We knew we probably bit off more than we can chew with that game. I've been a part of some good STA teams [Aquinas in Florida] and coached against a good Camden County team, a loaded Prattville [Ala.] team, as well as De La Salle out in California. Never have I seen a bigger, faster and stronger team than St. John's. It was a great experience for our guys to go against the best of the best. I know the score doesn't show it, but our guys went out there and held their own in the trenches as well as had some guys that matched some of their speed on the outside. That gave us confidence heading into region play. Plus the trip was great for our program. Going to places like the Holocaust Museum and our kids participating in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are things that these kids won't ever forget. We plan on scheduling a top-notch program every year, as long as we come out healthy!" [St. John's, which beat Johns Creek 49-0, is 8-0 and ranked No. 3 nationally in the MaxPreps' Xcellent 25.]
3. You coached for years in Florida and saw some of the best teams there. You've played and coached in other states. How does Georgia football compare to that in Florida and other states? "The overall football in Georgia is better than any place I've ever been or coached. And it's not even close. There's so many good coaches and staffs in Georgia. Plus, the time, effort and resources that Georgia schools, administrations and communities put into their football programs is extraordinary. The QB play in Georgia sets itself apart from many states. There's so many good QBs around the state. Growing up in Indiana, basketball was king. But football talent and coaching up there has improved drastically the last 20 or so years. I'd put some of those Indy teams like Warren Central and Ben Davis up against anyone in the country. As far as Florida goes, the speed is just ridiculous. You could have a kid do everything possibly wrong and still make a play because they're so fast. With their transfer rules now in effect down there, the schools are creating super teams all over the place. Kids can go anywhere they want. So you lose what little sense of community and school pride they had before. Makes it tough to build anything long term."
4. Class AAAAAA has been volatile this season. Teams with four and five losses are in the top 10 on region reputation, and some region champions have not been ranked until this week. How do you see it playing out? "Other than the fact that Lee County has been dominating this year, 6A seems wide open. But after that, it seems there are 12-15 teams that could make a run to at least a final four spot. I haven't seen enough of South Georgia football to comment. But it seems Region 1 is stacked and had two teams in the finals last year, although I'd be lying if I said my kids weren't disappointed to see four- and five-loss teams ahead of them in the rankings. We tell them there's only one poll that really matters that occurs in December. I do see our region as underrated. There are some excellent coaches and talent in our region. Alpharetta gave Coffee a run for their money in the third round last year, and Centennial was one play away from beating a very good Mays team in round two. There's some good football in North Fulton, and I'm hoping we can prove that in this year's playoffs."
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