AS I RECALL | RICH MCWHORTER
As told to Todd Holcomb, for the AJC
Rich McWhorter arrived at Charlton County High out of Eastern Illinois University in 1988. McWhorter, who ranks fourth among active Georgia head coaches in his tenure at one school, recalls the many decisions he made through the years to stay at Charlton.
I’ve gone to bed several nights after talking with my wife and deciding that we’re leaving Charlton County. The decision: We’re going to take another job.
Then I wake up the next morning and ask why. Yeah, I could make more money. But all I want to do is coach kids, and I’ve got kids here.
I’ve been at Charlton County 25 years. We’ve won 242 games and four state championships. I’ve been contacted about leaving every year. Sometimes I wonder if they want me or the players I used to have.
My wife, Sidney, and I are from the Midwest, but Charlton County is home now. I’ve got a daughter, Darby, who is the cheerleading captain, the starting first baseman on the softball team and a member of the golf team.
I’ve got a younger one, Hagin, who was named after one of my former players. It’s the only place my girls have ever known.
I get to go to former players’ weddings. I get to coach their kids. I get to know their families. I’ve got former players on my staff. My principal, Dr. Joshua Howard, is a former player of mine.
I don’t know why there are so many coaching changes now. I guess 6-4 has turned into a losing season. I know a lot of coaches who are very good with kids, those that if I had a son, I’d want them to play for them. But now it’s, “What was your record? It was .500? That’s not going to cut it because the guy in the county next to us played in the state championship game.”
A lot of coaches out there are looking for the perfect situation, too. If things don’t go right, if the support turns on them, they get out. They’re not willing to work through tough times. I didn’t want to be one of those guys, in and out of jobs.
We really like it here. It’s not the beach, but it doesn’t take long to get there. I can retire in five years, but that doesn’t mean I want to. My goal is to die an old football coach. It very well could be here in Charlton County.
