New head coaches who are off to strong starts
New football coaches often ask for patience. The request is more than fair. New GHSA coaches are 53-96 this season. Those same teams were 65-94 one year ago.
So yes, it takes time. But here are five that have made their fan bases happy so far.
*Rance Gillespie, Rabun County: Gillespie is back at his alma mater, which has a winning tradition, so a 2-0 start is not unusual. But this 2-0 start includes last week’s 35-0 victory over Fannin County. Rabun was ranked No. 4 last season when it lost to Fannin 28-7. Rabun’s six points allowed are the fewest after two games for the Wildcats since 1987.
*Nelson Stewart, Westminster: Nelson came from Isidore Newman in New Orleans to replace Gerry Romberg, who retired after 33 seasons. Six top-10 opponents, including Class 3A No. 1 Calhoun this week, lie ahead for an overhauled young team, but the Wildcats have swept Lovett and Pace Academy, their two closest and biggest Atlanta rivals, for the first time sine 2021.
*Corey Richardson, Norcross: The Blue Devils promoted a 24-year assistant to replace Keith Maloof, Gwinnett County’s all-time winningest coach. Under Richardson, Norcross is 2-0 for the first time since 2020 following last week’s victory over 10th-ranked Mill Creek in Class 6A.
*Kevin Saunders, Apalachee: There’s no better way for a new coach to earn equity than to end a 29-game losing streak in his first game against an opponent that won the same game easily the year before. Last week’s 47-2 loss last week to Cherokee Bluff, a top-10 Class 3A team, was sobering, but Apalachee is the most improved team with a new coach, according to GHSF Daily’s Improvement Tracker.
*Brett Vavra, Etowah: The Eagles were 2-8 last season after an 0-3 start. Against the same schedule, they have beaten county rival Woodstock 38-31 in overtime (lost by 17 last year) and had Class 5A No. 7 Sprayberry on the ropes (24-21 in the fourth quarter) before losing 42-24. Sprayberry is Vavra’s former team.
Notes: Hebron Christian's Kenny Dallas and Prince Avenue Christian's Jon Richt, new coaches at 2024 Class 3A-A Private finalists, have won their first two against good competition. Other first-year coaches who are 2-0 are Richardson, Gillespie, Nelson, Jarvis Jones at Carver of Columbus, Marcus Gowan at Gordon Central, Jeremy New at Heritage of Ringgold, Andrico Hines at Hughes, Connie Arnold at Mount Paran Christian, Pete Fominaya at Sprayberry and Cedric Mason at Westside of Augusta.