Gordon Central High School
CALHOUN, Ga. - Change is coming to Gordon Central High School, at least on the coaching front.
Four new head coaches will be in charge of teams there this coming school year, something obviously that has kept athletic director Scott Cullifer busy. The changes come on the heels of a successful year in which the football and boys' basketball teams -- two of the sports getting new leaders -- made the playoffs.
Veteran coach David Humphreys is leading the football Warriors through summer drills. Last season's offensive coordinator under coach Chad Fisher, Humphreys previously coached at Rome and Trion, taking each program to the playoffs. He inherits a program that won seven games last year but suffered heavy graduation losses.
The latest hiring fills three openings. Former Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe athlete and Coosa head football coach Scott Chandler will be Gordon Central's new boys' basketball coach, football assistant coach and the head strength and conditioning coach. In basketball Chandler replaces Rodney English, who guided the Warriors to an 18-10 season and appearance in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.
The other two major hirings are Erick Hooper for girls' basketball and Chris Stephens for softball.
"I'm very excited about several new coaches at Gordon Central," Cullifer said. "They all bring a great deal of energy and excitement to our programs. They are program builders who are focused on building in the community and feeder programs. They also will be tremendous additions to our school, staff and community."
Cullifer knows his new coaches face different challenges. Foremost is having to replace one of the most decorated senior classes in school history, but the AD searched for just the right people to take on that challenge.
"We graduated a good group, but we have good ones returning, too," Cullifer said. "We want a long-term focus ... coaches that can maximize what we have but also work with our feeder schools to build programs in each of these sports. Also, these guys are coaches of great character who are positive contributors to the Warrior Nation."
• Gordon Central was not the only Gordon County school to make a big coaching splash this summer. Former Calhoun defensive coordinator and Adairsville head football coach Jim Kremer was hired by Sonoraville to be Roger Gentry's defensive coordinator. The Phoenix were 1-9 last year and will count on Kremer, who was the architect of Hal Lamb's early defensive dynasty at Calhoun, to improve in that area.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.