Brooks County Head Football Coach Josh McFather on How He Got the Job and the Long List of Successful Coaches Who Influenced Him, Including His Own Father
Josh McFather is in his first season as the Brooks County High School head football coach, but he’s spent his whole life surrounded by successful football coaches.
That includes his dad, Daniel McFather, who recently retired from coaching after a 34-year career. Although Josh McFather never coached for his dad, he did play for him in high school, and seeing how his dad impacted others made a lasting impression.
“My dad definitely influenced my decision to want to coach,” Josh McFather said. “Seeing him influence young men and step in and be a father figure inspired me to want to do the same.”
Josh McFather began his coaching career at Hahira Middle School in 2012 while attending Valdosta State University. That meant working with the likes of longtime Lowndes High School head coach Randy McPherson, who won three state championships with the Vikings.
Then, of course, there’s Maurice Freeman, the man McFather worked under most recently at Brooks County and succeeded as the Trojans’ head football coach. McFather said he learned a lot under Freeman.
“I still carry a lot of the same philosophies he (Freeman) taught me,” McFather said. “I’d be crazy not to.”
Freeman brought McFather to Brooks County in 2019 as the receivers coach. McFather held that position for three seasons, during which the Trojans made it to the state championship game every year, winning it all in 2021 with a 56-28 win over Irwin County.
When former offensive coordinator Kyle Wilson left the team after the 2021 season, Freeman offered the job to McFather, who accepted and served in the role for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Then, with Freeman’s unexpected departure, the door finally opened for McFather.
“He (Freeman) told me he was leaving and that he had recommended me for the head coaching job,” McFather said.
That’s when Zach Grage, Brooks County’s athletic director, met with McFather and offered him the job on an interim basis.
“Zach brought me in and said he wanted to offer me the head coaching job on an interim basis,” McFather said.
Grage explained the factors that led to the decision to make McFather Brooks County’s interim head football coach.
“We were very fortunate here at Brooks County to have someone like Coach McFather here to help ease the transition from Coach Freeman’s unexpected departure,” Grage said. “At that point in the year, it was not an option to fully open the position, and it would have left many programs in disarray. Luckily, we were able to lean on Coach McFather, someone who had been here for six years, knew the system, knew the kids, and had genuine relationships with many on the coaching staff, administration, and community members to keep things going in the right direction.”
Add Zach Grage to the list of coaches with championship experience who have influenced McFather. Grage led Thomasville to three region titles and a trip to the state championship game in 2021.
“Coach Grage has been a great mentor for me,” McFather said. “He has given me some great advice.”
With this year’s Brooks County team loaded with talent, McFather understands the expectations are sky high this season in Quitman.
“I fully understand,” McFather said. “The entire community has high expectations for our team this year, and no one has higher expectations than me. I can promise you that.”
Josh McFather and his wife, Lori Ann, have been married for 14 years and have a daughter, Haleigh.
