Since the 2006 season, most of Georgia’s 400 football-playing schools have hired new head coaches.
It’s a sign of the times: Schools are wanting to win more than ever, and they’re looking for just the right guy to turn things around.
But sometimes, it’s just the wrong guy they need.
As dozens of school seek the quick fix each year, the example of Rich McWhorter at Charlton County comes to mind.
In 1988, just out of college in his native Illinois, McWhorter talked his fiancée into moving to Georgia so he could be an assistant for a bad team in poor rural town best known for the Okefenokee Swamp. McWhorter's talent for persuasion was evident then.
The football team had averaged two wins a year through the decade. In McWhorter’s first year on the sidelines, Charlton went 3-7. Only 19 players were still in uniform for the last game, and all of Charlton County’s coaches were about to find new jobs – except McWhorter. Nobody would hire the 23-year-old.
A year later, the exodus of coaches happened again. This time, McWhorter decided he wanted the job.
“The principal didn’t seem real interested in me applying for it but said he really didn’t have any other applicants, so if you want it, you can have it,’’ McWhorter said. “He told me this could be last job you ever have. And I guess he was right.’’
Since 1990, the wrong guy's first season as head coach, Charlton County has been one of the most remarkable success stories – and McWhorter one of the most remarkable coaches – in Georgia history.
Entering his 20th season, McWhorter has never failed to deliver a winning season. His record is 207-44-1. His winning percentage is sixth-best all-time in Georgia. Charlton County has won state championships in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Four of McWhorter’s players have gone to the NFL, including Champ Bailey and Boss Bailey of the Denver Broncos.
“I believed the kids we had could run, and there was athleticism," McWhorter said. “We had no weightlifting program at all, just one bench press in the whole school. But I really believed that if we could develop a program that’s built around discipline and hard work on the practice field and weight room and demand that the players do right in all situations, at home and at school and in the community, I thought we’d have a chance to be competitive."
It didn’t take long.
Charlton County was in the Class A final in McWhorter’s first season. The team lost to Lincoln County, Georgia’s most famous small-school program, 6-0 in the championship game.
In 2008, Charlton went 9-2, ending a streak of 13 seasons with at least 10 victories. It was the first time Charlton had failed to win at least one playoff game under McWhorter.
“I was a third-year high school coach from the Midwest, and people around here didn’t expect much out of me or the kids,’’ McWhorter said. “I was fortunate to have a few good assistants, and the next thing you know, we started winning some ball games and … it’s rolled ever sense.’’
Naturally, McWhorter has been sought out over the years by several bigger schools, all offering more money, hoping to buy some of the magic that McWhorter brought to unsuspecting Charlton County.
McWhorter has turned them down, often because he didn’t think those courting him were realistic.
“Coaching is really overrated in my opinion,’’ McWhorter said. “If you’ve got good players and assistant coaches, you’ve got a chance to be successful. I’ve gotten to know coaches who haven’t been successful that I thought were good, and others that were successful, but I didn’t think they were so good, but were in a situation like mine – great athletes and really good help.’’
Most of McWhorter’s colleagues would give him a little more credit than he gives himself. But it’s something to think about for any of the 60 Georgia schools who have hired new coaches this off-season.
You never know what you're getting.
Todd Holcomb is the co-founder of Georgia High School Football Daily, a free email newsletter. To subscribe, email ghsfdaily@bellsouth.net.
