Milton promoted offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ben Reaves on Tuesday to succeed Adam Clack, who won brought the Eagles football program to state prominence in his five seasons.
Reaves came to Milton with Clack in 2017. The Eagles are 54-12 in that time and won the 2018 Class 7A championship, the school’s first in history.
“I’m super grateful that the administration is giving me the chance to take over this program, especially with it being my first head coaching job,’' Reaves said. “I’ve been here five years, and I’ve had opportunities to leave, and there were head-coaching jobs I could’ve pursued, but being around high school football my whole life, I knew that Milton was a special place with intangibles that are hard to find these days. Something told me just stay here, continue to build the program and relationships and hopefully one day I could take over the program.’'
Reaves is the son of Ben Reaves Sr., a 25-year Georgia head coach who retired after the 2017 season after stints at Social Circle, Newton, Putnam County and Walnut Grove.
Reaves played at Newton under his father and was a preferred walk-on wide receiver at Georgia in 2004 and 2005, finishing up the 2005 season as a student assistant. He’s been on high school staffs at Collins Hill, Berrien and Bay Shore High in Bradenton, Fla.
Reaves said he hoped to retain the current staff and would begin meeting with the assistants individually Wednesday.
Reaves also thanked Clack, who hired him in 2017.
“He definitely has lot to do with my knowledge and growth as a football coach,’' Reaves said. “Once he heard that I wanted to be a head coach, he took me under his wing and mentored me every chance he got and allowed me to be involved in lot of situations so I could see the ins and outs of being a head coach. I don’t take it lightly that I’m taking over for him. He’s done a tremendous job at Milton, and I want to be able to continue building on the foundation he laid.’'
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