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Three GWOC head coaches are in their first year: Nathan Hyatt (Vandalia-Butler), Chris Roark (Fairborn) and Dave Miller (Fairmont). Three more are in their second year: Matt Burgbacher (Troy), Joel Derge (Tippecanoe) and Tony Broering (Northmont). Five coaches are entering their third season: Jeff Graham (Trotwood-Madison), Doug Hatcher (West Carrollton), Nic Black (Beavercreek), Maurice Douglass (Springfield) and Rodney Roberts (Centerville).
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That’s 11 of 20 who have been in those positions for three seasons or less. The main recurring reasons for coaching changes are many. Some move on to other opportunities, but just as many are derailed by losing and falling out of favor with administration.
RELATED: GWOC American South top returning RB’s.
The high school football season begins for most area teams on Aug. 26.
Former Versailles coach Al Hetrick spent 38 seasons establishing the Tigers as a small-school state power from 1968-2006, making him a Methuselah among coaches then and now. He said the game hasn’t changed, but everything that encompasses it sure has, including players, parents, media hype and winning expectations.
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“That has definitely evolved because of the playoffs and spotlight kids,” said Hetrick, whose son Mike is the head coach at Brookville. “Aspirations differ. Now, (coaches) want to move quick and move up and make more money and just advance. Back in my days we were just satisfied with a solid job and we loved our community and people we were working with.”
It’s about time
The time element for coaching a major sport in high school certainly has expanded since those days. Woe to the program that isn’t evolving year around, with weight training, summer camps and offseason coaching days. That extended attention can weigh heavily on a young head coach, especially if the wins are lacking, progress is fleeting and a growing family misses its man.
To be sure, there are major differences coaching large suburban programs than in rural communities such as Versailles. As always, winning cures everything.
“The pressure in coaching is greater than it was to win,” Hetrick said. “A lot of guys don’t get it done and they have to move on and it creates opportunities for someone else and that leads to a bigger turnover in coaches. You have to get in the playoffs now to be successful.
“In my case, I had (assistant) coaches with me for 30 years. We just had a camaraderie that it was family. Guys a lot of times had offers to go other places but would think, man, how could it be any better than here? I just loved it (at Versailles). It was out in the country and you’re raising your family in a nice environment with good working-class people. It’s your priorities; what do you want in life?”
Here’s more insight from Hetrick, who led Versailles to six small-school state championships:
Becoming a head coach: "I was real happy being an assistant. I prayed about it and my family talked about it. I wasn't sure I wanted that responsibility at that young age. I just wanted to establish myself in the education system at Versailles. All of a sudden here was the football job handed to me and Versailles takes their football pretty serious."
Parents: "If you let the parents start getting involved and you listen to them then you've got a problem and it becomes more than a lot of guys want to handle. You have to be stern in those areas."
Media: "There's a lot more now. Some kids handle exposure well and some kids and parents don't. We never had that problem at Versailles."
Our culture is enamored with all levels of football, from peewees to pros. TV ratings are proof we can’t get enough of it. But for many closest to the game, it can be too much of a good thing.
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