COLUMN: Time to make decision on Goldsboro football job

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 26, 2017 6:58 AM

• Print
• Email

Somebody fumbled the football.

And they're still kicking it around.

It's been five months since Goldsboro lost its head varsity football coach.

Wayne County Public Schools officials didn't post the job vacancy until March. Applications were received and potential candidates -- which were reduced to 8 -- were interviewed on April 25.

Now the list is down to three. The trio awaits to see who WCPS Superintendent Michael Dunsmore will submit as his final recommendation to the Board.

The approval date is undetermined.

Are those crickets we hear?

GHS is the county's most-recognized program that has existed for six-plus decades. Former football players who walked the hallowed halls in the East and West portions of the school have excelled on every level -- collegiate and professional.

Why the procrastination?

The decision, which shows a lack of care and concern for athletics in Wayne County, should have been made at least by the end of March. That would have given the new head coach some much-needed working room to organize the program and meet with his staff.

Luckily, the current assistant coaches grabbed the reins and managed to cobble out a 10-day spring-training plan that included weight room work, conditioning and some drills. Some of the athletes couldn't consistently attend pratice due to outdoor track and field commitments.

The period also fell between final exams.

Less than 40 days remain before the first official day of practice.

And the rumor mill -- to no one's surprise -- has twirled uncontrollably over the past weeks. The WCPS office has been inundated with phone calls and nearly every caller has questioned why it's taken so long to make a decision.

Who will become the seventh head coach at GHS since 1959?

Whoever it is, God bless him. The gentleman is going to have his hands full and he'll, no doubt, get peppered with questions about how he's going to handle the program.

Will the current staff stay intact?

What's his coaching philosophy and how will he sell it to the returning players and the newcomers who are eager to earn the privilege to wear the maize-and-gold uniforms on Thursday and Friday nights this fall?

He already faces three issues -- discipline, player confidence and competition.

Goldsboro, at times last season, struggled to keep its composure on the field and on the sideline. Temper tantrums, helmet tossing, barking at officials and coaches didn't go unnoticed by the Cougar faithful. They remained silent and walked away, embarrassed by their team's disappointing posture.

The Cougars are 7-26 over the past three seasons.

Their last playoff trip was in 2013.

Somewhere along the way, self belief has to get established among the players. Each time they step between the lines, they need positive encouragement -- from the coaches and teammates -- whenever adversity strikes. Character helps build a winner, helps develop a sense of pride and prepares you for life's lessons.

The scoreboard means nothing.

Goldsboro becomes an official member of the East Central 2-A Conference on July 1. The new head coach inherits a league schedule that includes Wallace-Rose Hill, James Kenan, Clinton, East Duplin, Midway and county foe Spring Creek.

Whoever is hired, good luck.