Winning means everything
Got to say, I was quite disappointed to hear that Clarke Central decided to not retain William DeVane as its head football coach for next year. I consider Coach DeVane a good friend and quite an excellent football coach. Truth be told, I was very much involved in the selection of DeVane as football coach, serving as an intermediary between some of the school's officials and him during the early days of the hiring process back in 2002. I recommended him quite highly to Clarke Central athletic director Jon Ward, yet another good friend of mine.
I can understand one of the rationales for not retaining DeVane next season ... that being his inability to surround himself with experienced and knowledgeable assistant coaches. DeVane's coaching style resembles that of a CEO at a business - he puts together a team of coaches around him who he trusts and respects, and lets them do their job. At Hart County, where he compiled three undefeated seasons and won three Region 8-AAA titles, he had a tremendous coaching staff with him and the Bulldogs were very successful. At Clarke Central, he had inexperienced coaches in high-ranking positions who, at times, appeared to be completely overwhelmed and unprepared. Ultimately, as Texas points out, that cost him.
But I don't necessarily agree with dismissing DeVane after merely four seasons at the helm of the Gladiators' ship. Clarke Central won the region title in 2003 and reached the playoffs in three of the four years with DeVane. Furthermore, DeVane's system of developing players from the high school level on down to the middle school ranks was just beginning to take root. In 2006, he would have fielded his first team that had been completely immersed in the way he liked to do things.
The intangibles, however, are where I think this decision is the most short-sighted. DeVane possesses, unlike any other coach I've seen outside of Jeff Herron or Steve Savage, the abililty to see the bigger picture. In the midst of Clarke Central's 2003 region title run, the Gladiators stumbled against cross-town rival Cedar Shoals. It ranks as one of the two most heartbreaking defeats I've seen suffered by an area team (the other being Oconee County's 2000 loss to Marist at Warrior Stadium) ... and it absolutely devestated the Clarke Central players.
And DeVane did something remarkable in the wake of that bitter loss - he singlehandedly saved that team's season. I wrote about it then, and it still stands out as one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen in high school athletics.
Coach DeVane has that knack - that rare ability to connect with his players and recognize that while football is his job, it's also just a game for the 15- and 16-year-olds who suit up for him. There's a bigger picture that involves character and pride and getting a good education and being a good role model for some students who have no role model in their homes.
Yes, it's true Clarke Central was not as successful this past season - and the Gladiators did, at times, look so overmatched on the football field it wasn't even funny. But there's more to high school football than wins and losses, and it's shame that isn't always taken into account.
I can understand one of the rationales for not retaining DeVane next season ... that being his inability to surround himself with experienced and knowledgeable assistant coaches. DeVane's coaching style resembles that of a CEO at a business - he puts together a team of coaches around him who he trusts and respects, and lets them do their job. At Hart County, where he compiled three undefeated seasons and won three Region 8-AAA titles, he had a tremendous coaching staff with him and the Bulldogs were very successful. At Clarke Central, he had inexperienced coaches in high-ranking positions who, at times, appeared to be completely overwhelmed and unprepared. Ultimately, as Texas points out, that cost him.
But I don't necessarily agree with dismissing DeVane after merely four seasons at the helm of the Gladiators' ship. Clarke Central won the region title in 2003 and reached the playoffs in three of the four years with DeVane. Furthermore, DeVane's system of developing players from the high school level on down to the middle school ranks was just beginning to take root. In 2006, he would have fielded his first team that had been completely immersed in the way he liked to do things.
The intangibles, however, are where I think this decision is the most short-sighted. DeVane possesses, unlike any other coach I've seen outside of Jeff Herron or Steve Savage, the abililty to see the bigger picture. In the midst of Clarke Central's 2003 region title run, the Gladiators stumbled against cross-town rival Cedar Shoals. It ranks as one of the two most heartbreaking defeats I've seen suffered by an area team (the other being Oconee County's 2000 loss to Marist at Warrior Stadium) ... and it absolutely devestated the Clarke Central players.
And DeVane did something remarkable in the wake of that bitter loss - he singlehandedly saved that team's season. I wrote about it then, and it still stands out as one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen in high school athletics.
Coach DeVane has that knack - that rare ability to connect with his players and recognize that while football is his job, it's also just a game for the 15- and 16-year-olds who suit up for him. There's a bigger picture that involves character and pride and getting a good education and being a good role model for some students who have no role model in their homes.
Yes, it's true Clarke Central was not as successful this past season - and the Gladiators did, at times, look so overmatched on the football field it wasn't even funny. But there's more to high school football than wins and losses, and it's shame that isn't always taken into account.
posted by Jmac at 8:11 AM
3 Comments:
Actually most of what I could think about was this guy.
I agree with you totally. But I also believe if you are going to focus all this attention on athletics, you need to focus some on academics at the school (which by the way, we are way behind other schools in the area). When are they going to fire some teachers?
i'm still pissed. william devane is what is right with high school athletics. luckily i know he will land on his feet and some kids somewhere else will be lucky to have him in their lives. the kids of clarke central will suffer and that's a shame.
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