GHSF Daily asked Georgia head coaches to answer these four questions. We'll report from a different head coach each day.
Nick Vasilchek, Luella
1. Who is/was the most influential person in your coaching career?"Quentin Merkel, head baseball coach at my alma mater, Reitz Memorial, in Evansville, Ind. He taught me that preparation and determination and discipline can make up for lack of resources and overall ability. When you are part of a program where the coach holds the players to a high standard, those players will believe and play like they are elite."
2. Who is the best Georgia player you ever faced?"Greg Reid, 2008 AAAAA state playoffs, first round. He was a dynamic talent. His speed and cutting ability were very rare to see at the high school level."
3. What is the best team you ever faced as a coach?"Lowndes, 2008 state playoffs, round one. They were loaded with talent across the board, and the speed they played with was something we had not seen before."
4. If you were Gary Phillips, the new head of the GHSA, what would be the first rule that you would try to change?"First rule I would change would be the cut blocking rule. Our players will face cut blocking all over the field in college, and I feel that it would be great if our players could experience it in high school to better prepare them for college. I believe Texas already does this, and with us being a great football state, I would love to see this added to benefit our student athletes."
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