After working on completing his initial coaching staff for several months, Winder-Barrow High School football coach David Wagner can now get down to the business of what takes place on the field.
The Bulldoggs will begin spring practice this week with two sessions as the official countdown begins to the 2010 season.
“I told someone the other day that everything I do from now on will be working toward the season,” Wagner said. “It’s too close now.”
The new Bulldogg mentor was methodical in selecting his group of assistants, wanting to build a “family atmosphere.” Several of the hires are coaches Wagner has worked with in the past as he hopes that familiarity will be an advantage.
Kennenth Sanders will be the team’s offensive coordinater as the Bulldoggs move from the spread offense to the Wing-T. Sanders comes from Walnut Grove High School in Walton County. He coached with Wagner at AHS and Elbert County.
“He has a good background in the Wing-T offense and option football,” Wagner said. “He is highly organized and will help oversee our weight program.”
Andrew Johnson arrives from Washington-Wilkes and will work with quarterbacks and defensive backs. Wagner said all coaches will have duties on both sides of the football.
Wagner and Johnson were college teammates and roommates and coached together at Elbert County and in Tennessee.
Stanley Allen arrives at WBHS from Salem where he was part of Chad Estes’ staff. Allen has been an offensive and defensive coordinator and Wagner said he felt lucky to hire him.
“Several schools wanted him and we were fortunate to be able to get him,” Wagner said. “He is a great guy that everyone speaks highly of. He has so much experience coaching both sides of the football that he will really fit in well with us.
Allen will help with the offensive line and safeties for the Bulldoggs in 2010.
Keith Chattin also arrives from Walnut Grove and will work with the offensive and defensive lines. Chattin has also coached at Worth County and St. Pius.
“He is one of those coaches who is very intense,” Wagner said. “He gets excited. I believe we will have a good mix of coaching personalities. We have some who are more soft spoken and some who will get after you.”
Jason Austin and Luther Price have been retained from the previous staff. Austin will focus primarily on the defensive line this season although he will continue to have duties on the offensive front. Price will be the special teams coordinator and work with cornerbacks and wide receivers.
“They both have such a love for the game and a love for the school,” Wagner said. “They wanted to do anything they could to continue to be a part of the program.”
Wagner will serve as his own defensive coordinator, at least for the first season of the new coaching era. He said the key to winning is being able to stop people and he doesn’t want to put that pressure on anyone else.
“I guess I’m young enough and crazy enough to do it,” Wagner said. “99.9 percent of coaches will tell you if you are going to win, you have to stop people. Whatever happens will be on me.”
Wagner will implement the 4-3 system he had so much success with at Apalachee although he says he is willing to make whatever adjustments are needed depending on personnel.
“The only thing I’m married to is winning,” Wagner said. “We will do whatever it takes to win. I believe in the 4-3. It has been good to me. But I’ve also been fortunate to have the kids to run it.”
Wagner said the new coaching staff has already met several times and many have been doing things such as playing golf together to form a bond as they begin their new mission.
The 2010 WBHS ninth grade football coaching staff will consist of Elton Lynn, Chad Horne and Elihue Foskey.
