This is Nick Davis' 20th season as head coach, his fifth at Spaulding High School. And it's one his best.
The Jaguars are off to their first-ever 5-0 start, in part because of change in Davis’ coaching philosophy. Throughout his coaching career, which includes stops at Riverdale, Shiloh and Burke County, Davis says he has maintained an old-school, no-nonsense approach. But this season, with an experienced returning cast that has endured one- and two-win seasons, Davis lightened up a little.
“One thing that has helped us this year is that light atmosphere,” Davis said. “We let them know that it’s okay to come out here and have fun.”
That’s exactly what the Jaguars did Monday as they began preparation for their biggest game of the season to this point.
“Yesterday, we had a practice, it was raining, ant beds all over the field, and you would have thought it’s the first day or practice,” said Davis, whose Jaguars host perennial power Griffin on Friday.
Davis explained that he elected to alter his philosophy to adapt to the players he’s coaching, now compared to the ones he coached early his career, two decades ago.
“You’ve got to change,” Davis said. “Kids are totally different these days, compared to when I played and when I started coaching. Everything is technology-based, social media, so you have to change with the times.”
Davis hopes to change Spalding’s level of success against Griffin this week. The Jaguars have never beaten Griffin in seven tries. The Bears have won those seven meetings by an average margin of 42-8. But Griffin is off to an uneven 2-2 start. The 2014 Class AAAA state champions have lost more games this season than they have in the last two combined. Is this Spalding’s year?
“We’re at a point, where our team chemistry is as good as it’s ever been at any school I’ve ever been at,” Davis said. “Our seniors, they understand our goal. This is just the next step. It’s a lot of firsts in this senior group, and they really do a great job of keeping us humble. And that’s a thing that we preach as a coaching staff because we know what it’s like to be 1-8, 2-8, 1-9. That’s not too far removed, so we’re just trying to be humble throughout the process. Our kids have done an outstanding job. They’re not letting this stuff go to their head or anything like that. They come out and work hard every day.”
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