New coaches often get a little “grace” when it comes to their first year with a team. Enthusiasm and excitement accompanies new management, but most fans just hope for improvement.
Maybe someone should have clued Hardaway High School’s head football coach Michael Woolridge in on that little fact. Instead of taking stock and allowing for a getting-acquainted season, the new coach and his staff hit the ground running.
The 2016 football season turned out to be the first winning season, 5-4, for the Hawks since 2010.
Woolridge had been an assistant football coach for two years prior to his promotion to the head of Hardaway’s football program, his first job as a head coach. Last year brought a lot of new faces to the sidelines of teams in the Chattahoochee Valley, but most of those new coaches had head coaching experience on their resumes.
Woolridge was not intimidated, however, for several reasons. One, he is a Hardaway alumni and therefore, at home there. Two, over the years he had either played for or coached with good coaches who taught him the game and leadership skills. And, three, Woolridge put together a staff who helped his team buy into the idea that a tradition of winning was possible at Hardaway again.
It was a learning season for sure, but highlights included leading rusher, running back Marco Lee carrying the ball 131 times for a total of 836 yards. Hawks’ leading receiver was JaKobe Ellerbee with nine receptions for 106 yards, who also scored six touchdowns. Hardaway’s quarterback, Dominque Ford was the team’s leading passer with 29 completions out of 66 attempts for 277 yards. Leading the defense in tackles was linebacker Clyde Albright with 77. Antonio Campbell snagged six interceptions on the season for the Hawks.
The good news for Hardaway, Lee, Ford and Albright are returning this season. All three are considered college prospects along with DB Courtland Dixon, LB Adrian Dunham, Jr., OL Cedric Lockhart, DB Monthedio Salas, WR/DB Jahkari Thomas, LB/TE Dylan Kolath and K/P Freddy Zamudio. Four of those athletes, Zamudio, Albright, Dixon and Kolath, also made the top academic players list for Hardaway. Kelvin Usher leads that list with a 3.8 GPA.
Of the 70 players suiting up for the Hawks this season, six will be returning offensive starters and five are defensive starters. Woolridge says he is preaching to his team to not become content with last year’s record or complacent about the road ahead.
“We are not hanging our hat on mediocrity,” said Woolridge. “Sure, we like having a winning record, but we expect and will put in the work to gain much more.”
When asked about a team’s weakness, most coaches cite deficiencies in positions or lack of experienced players, etc. Woolridge sees his team’s weakness as needing to focus more on classroom performance. He feels if emphasis is placed on improving in the classroom, those efforts will transition to the football field.
To that end, rising seniors must sign up for the SAT/ACT and NCAA eligibility center by the end of the junior season. Woolridge says he wants his athletes to have a plan for post-secondary options.
His 2017 goals include a team GPA of 2.8, to make the playoffs and for his senior players to have entered into military service, post-secondary education or job placement three months after graduation.
After one year at the helm of his program, Woolridge’s philosophy for his offense and defense hasn’t changed much. He wants his players to run the football effectively and efficiently. The defense needs to stop the run and get off the field on 3rd down.
Improvement plans include spreading out a little more offensively and giving playmakers a chance to have the ball more while hopefully continuing with the kind of running game they had the last half of the season. On the defensive side, the Hawks had problems with getting off the field on 3rd downs. Woolridge wants fewer struggles in that area.
Not many coaching changes, but one worth mentioning is the Hawks have acquired Del Ray Stevens to coach outside linebackers. Stevens was a member of the coaching staff for the 2007 Carver High School State Championship Team.
Perhaps Woolridge’s greatest accomplishment so far with his program is also what he sees as the team’s greatest strength.
“We are a family,” he said. “We look after each other like brothers. There is a genuine cohesive bond between the players. This unity will aid us in taking a step to the next level this season.”
Columbus Valley/ football preview/Aug-Sept
Hardaway High School
Columbus, Ga
By Beth Welch
Photos courtesy of Hardaway High School
