Survey: Coaches differ on best way to build HS football program

Talented players, good coaching and administrative support are the main ingredients behind a winning high school football program, a survey of Georgia’s head football coaches showed.

More than 90 percent of the 147 coaches who responded to a questionnaire compiled by Georgia High School Football Daily for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution listed one of those three components as the most important asset to winning.

Much less significant -- and cited by fewer than 10 percent as the most important --  were facilities, money, community and parental support, feeder programs and enrollment size. Only 12 of the 147 coaches listed any of those factors.

The most valuable ingredient was not easy to decipher: It depended on who was asked, and how the coach was asked.

“Depends on how truthful we want to be, but I think we’re only as good as our players,’’ said Hillgrove’s Phillip Ironside, whose team upset reigning Class AAAAA champion Camden County in the second round of the playoffs this year.  “We can kid ourselves and pretend, but if our kids are not as good as the other guy’s, we’re going to struggle.’’

Sandy Creek’s Chip Walker agreed with that assessment.

“Players on the field can make up for me busting a call or checking to the wrong defense,’’ said Walker, whose team won its first state title in 2009.

Statesboro’s Steve Pennington, however, was among 32 percent who said coaching was the most important asset. Pennington’s teams are 73-16 in seven seasons, though only seven of his former players are on college rosters today.

“The players, the students, the children, they’re all the same,’’ Pennington said. “What makes the difference are those who work with those children.’’

He believes the continuity of a quality staff -- and his seven coaches have been together for seven seasons -- has made a bigger difference.

"We don’t have world-beater athletes down here like some of the people we’re playing, but if you’ve still got a foundation that’s consistent, it gives you a chance,’’ Pennington said.

Twenty-three percent of the coaches said they would rather have the support of their principal and administration over anything else.

“With that, you can take care of the rest,’’ St. Pius coach Paul Standard said.

“Without it, it is almost impossible to run a program,’’ Lanier County coach Wade Beal said.

The results took another turn when the question was asked differently.

More than 70 percent of the coaches said a good staff  was mandatory and a program "can’t win unless this area is strong.” Thirty-eight percent of the coaches believed athleticism and talent were mandatory to winning. Just 23 percent of the coaches cited administrative support as mandatory.

The ready explanation for ranking talent behind coaching was this:  While coaches were more likely to rate a staff as more important when using a 1-5 scale, they picked talent when forced to choose between assets they initially rated equally using the scale.

For example, 26 percent of the coaches listed both staff and talent as "mandatory’’ to winning on the 1-5 scale. When asked which was the most important asset overall, they were six times more likely to list talent over the coaching staff.

When coaches were asked which ingredient was most lacking at their school, there was no consensus.

Tops on the wish list was better facilities, cited by 17 percent of the coaches. More athleticism and talent (15 percent) came next.

Community/parental support (14 percent) and financial support (13 percent), which go hand in hand,  accounted for 27 percent of the responses.

Sandy Creek’s Walker said all ingredients were important  for a successful program.

“To win at the highest level, you’ve got to have it all,’’ Walker said. "Look at the big names: Camden County, Northside, Buford. There are places like that in every class now that have it, so if you don’t you may not be able to accomplish that goal. That’s just how competitive it is in Georgia.’’

THE SURVEY SAYS

More than 140 high school football coaches responded to an extensive questionnaire on some of the biggest issues facing their sport. The series, which began on Sunday, continues throughout state championship week.

Coming this week:

Sunday: Coaches: It's a parent trap

Monday: Top ingredients for a winning program

Tuesday: Private school classification dilemma

Wednesday: Biggest changes in the sport

Thursday: Diversity among coaches

Friday: Best active coaches; best of all time