GHSF Daily asked Georgia head coaches to answer these four questions. We'll report from a different head coach each day.
Jared Zito, Ola
1. Who is/was the most influential person in your coaching career? "George Clayton. He is the head coach at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Fla., where I played and coached. He was our offensive line coach when I played, and he hired me out of college for my first teaching and coaching position. He taught me a lot about the game and really emphasized keeping it simple so the players can play fast and physical. He was very good at identifying our opponents' strengths and weaknesses. I learned a lot from him. We still keep in touch and talk a few times a year."
2. Who is the best Georgia player you ever faced? "Hutson Mason. He was the quarterback at Lassiter when we played them in the first round of the playoffs in 2009 when I was the head coach at North Forsyth. We felt like kings of the county when we were up 14-0, then Hutson took over. I have never seen a quarterback with such accuracy and poise. I think they beat us 62-37."
3. What is the best team you ever faced as a coach? "Grayson in 2011. They were big, physical, talented and very well-coached in every aspect of the game. They went on to win the state championship."
4. If you were Gary Phillips, the new head of the GHSA, what would be the first rule that you would try to change? "I will leave that up to people smarter than me. It is always easy to be critical of someone looking from the outside in. I am sure they are aware of a few items that need to be addressed and will continue to do what they think is best for all."
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