There are always adjustments to be made when a change in coaching staff occurs. For the 2016 football season, Jordan Vocational High School named Columbus native Justin Newman as the new head football coach.
Newman took over the Red Jackets football program on June 1, just 2½ months before the season began. Although athletes, coaches and fans were disappointed with the results of the season, Newman feels the adjustments to new management are behind the Red Jackets. In The Game asked Newman 10 Questions about himself, his football program and his take on coming to Jordan one year later.
In The Game: How long have you been coaching football?
Justin Newman: This upcoming season will be my 11th year coaching high school football, 2nd as a head coach.
ITG: When did you come to Jordan Vocational High School as a staff member?
JN: I came to Jordan last June 1 officially as the head football coach and social studies teacher.
ITG: Where did you coach/teach prior to Jordan?
JN: Prior to Jordan I was the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Wheeler County High School in Alamo, Ga; Schley County Defensive Coordinator; Season before that at G.W. Carver as assistant to coordinators; assistant head coach at St. Anne-Pacelli; assistant head coach, defensive coordinator at Shaw.
ITG: Did you play sports in high school and college?
JN: I played football and baseball at Shaw High School. I went to Georgia State University on a baseball scholarship and from there played in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
ITG: Do you teach at Jordan as well as coach sports?
JN: I teach American Government and World History.
ITG: What attracted you to the head coaching position at JVHS?
JN: Columbus, Georgia is home. Jordan has always had athletes to be successful, it just has not translated to victories in the past. This position gets me back home and becoming a head coach of a high school program, which was always my end goal.
ITG: Last season was a learning experience for you and everyone involved in your program. What are the expectations for your team this football season?
JN: Last year was tough, coming in as late as I did made it difficult to truly lay the foundation for the future of the program, but even though we went 0-10 , we have made some very positive strides as a program. The record is all on me with no excuses to make, but we are working hard here at Jordan in order to build toward the future of the program, not only on the wins and losses, but at life.
ITG: Have you made adjustments to your coaching style or philosophy since last season?
JN: The philosophy as a coach has stayed the same; I have just had to adjust little things in order to be more productive with our time. Each school is different and there is no blue print that each school must go by. It took this past season to see what needed to be adjusted here at Jordan in order to help make these kids successful. The one aspect that will never be adjusted is the high standards that I hold my players to: academically, behavior, etc. All the things that deal with character. Every one of these kids I treat like my own.
ITG: Are there any particular Red Jacket football players to watch this fall?
JN: Emmanuel Mann, Aaron Maxwell, JaQuan Crawford, Quintin Duke, D’Quandre Sullivan, Quantavious Hill, Cameron Green, Golden Strawther, lll, Jaylen Wyatt, and Demetrius McCrary.
ITG: What are one or two things that you really enjoy about coaching at Jordan?
JN: This place is special and not many people know about it. The perception of this school is not its reality at all. When it comes to academics, behavior, sports, anything, this place is a good/great school. For some reason or another there is a perception that this school is not one of the best in the city. It is an older school, but it has tradition. This place has arguably the best alumni association in the city.
Personal Bio
Name: Justin Ryan Newman
Hometown: Columbus, GA (born in Jamestown, ND)
Education: Shaw High School; Georgia State University
Sports awards or accomplishments (high school, college, career): All Bi-City Baseball High School; All-Conference Baseball College; Professional Baseball Player, Cincinnati Reds
Family: Wife, Kelly; children, Katharine Gail Newman (9), Charlie Ruth Newman (3), and Scott Thomas Newman (1)
Hobbies or leisure time activities: Anything sports with the Ohio State University Buckeyes. Spending time with wife and kids.
Person you most admire: Scott Newman, my father. If it was not for him, I would have been an attorney. He pushed me to go with him to Georgia Southern to meet Rance Gillispie and learn football. I have been hooked ever since. My father is my best friend and I love him to death. If I could be half the man he is, I will be successful.
Columbus Valley/10 Questions/October 2017
Justin Newman, head baseball coach
Jordan Vocation High School
Columbus, Georgia
By Beth Welch
Photos courtesy of Justin Newman
10 Questions with Justin Newman
