This week’s guest for our Georgia 4 Questions with the Coach segment is North Gwinnett head football coach Eric Godfree. Godfree was hired as the Bulldogs’ new head coach in February after Bill Stewart stepped down to accept a position with Georgia Tech.
Godfree comes to North Gwinnett from Parkview, where he served as head coach for nine seasons, leading the Panthers to 70 wins and two region titles. He inherits a North Gwinnett program that won its region and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 7A state playoffs last season. Can Godfree come in and keep the Bulldogs’ winning ways going? Let’s ask him about that and other things now!
Q. Coach Godfree, congratulations on your new position as the head coach at North Gwinnett. When did this opportunity first present itself and what was it that attracted you to the job? I mean, Parkview is a pretty good program, too!
A. It all happened very quickly in January, and I was not looking to leave Parkview. Parkview is a great program, and they are loaded and will have a legit shot to win state this fall. My initial reaction when being called about the job was this is not the year. I was encouraged to check it out and think long-term. North Gwinnett is the one of the best academic and athletic schools in the state. We are good at all sports programs, and the community is very supportive.
Q. Just as you are excited about taking over the Bulldogs football program, there is also some sadness about leaving Parkview, right? I mean, that’s your alma mater, and you really did a great job of restoring that Panther Product and making Parkview football relevant again.
A. It really is bittersweet. I do miss my longtime friends and players and the memories we made along the way, but I know I’ll have that same opportunity at North to create great friends and memories too. I will still pull for Parkview when they aren’t playing North!
Q. Coach Godfree, talk about Week 2 of the upcoming North Gwinnett season. That’s when you take your new team to the Big Orange Jungle. Have you thought about what that night’s gonna be like?
A. I have played it through my head some already, but I don’t want that game to be about me, as high school football is all about the kids. My main goal as a coach is to add value to people’s lives and create a great high school football experience for my players. I do think that the atmosphere of this game will help create a great experience, and I’m looking forward to it.
Q. I mentioned in the introduction that you’re taking over a team that made the Class 7A quarterfinals last year. Can you tell us about the group of young men you’ll go to battle with under the lights in 2023? Who are some of the key guys returning and who will be missed due to graduation?
A. We graduate a lot of experience – defensive linemen to Ohio State and Wake Forest, a linebacker to Kentucky, and others going to play college ball – but we have a lot of younger talent that is going to be very special. Our quarterback, Ryan Hall, is back after starting as a sophomore last year. He’s a special player and has some good pieces around him, including our returning running back, Julian Walters. I’m really looking forward to seeing our defensive line progress as we have four or five potential D1 players across the DL. Even though we will be on the young side and not have as much experience this season, I’m still expecting us to have a good season and compete with everyone we play.
