New opportunities

As I reported here, former Clarke Central head football coach William DeVane recently landed an assistant coaching job at Hart County.

It was at Hart County where DeVane first established his coaching credentials, first after more than a decade as an assistant coach and then as head coach. At the helm of the program, the Bulldogs won three consecutive Region 8-AAA titles, reeled off three straight undefeated regular seasons and guided Hart County to the 1999 Class AAA runner-up finish (losing to a Cartersville team led by current NFL player and former Auburn standout Ronnie Brown).

DeVane left Hart County to take over Greene County's program, but only spent a year there before the opportunity at Clarke Central opened up. He spent five years with the Gladiators, leading them to a Region 8-AAAA championship and a couple of playoff trips before being relieved of his duties late last year.

Coach DeVane was a former defensive lineman at Clemson, playing on the Tigers' 1981 national championship team ... and is large enough that he could wrap his entire hand around my head.

DeVane said he's eager to return home.

"I'm excited," he said. "I still have a lot of friends in Hartwell. It feels like I left home for college and after 5 years of school, I'm coming back home."

At Hart County, DeVane will coach linebackers, a position he has never coached before. Plus, it's his first time serving as an assistant coach in almost a decade. Those changes, however, don't concern him.

"I don't think the transition from head coach to assistant will be difficult for me," he said. "Especially working with Joby. We've known each other for a long time and we never had a problem working together. A different position won't be difficult; coaching is coaching."

DeVane is correct in his latter assertment, but all of his experience didn't help him as he searched for a position the past few months. Despite having won region championships at two different schools, as well as his impressive ride at Hart County, DeVane said he landed only one interview for a head coaching job ... at Worth County.

The experience frustrated him.

"The fact that I have eight years experience as a head coach, four region championships (two in AA, AAA and AAAA ), a state runner-up team and an overall win percentage of almost 70% granted me only one head coaching interview is ridiculous," DeVane said." I suppose being certified as an administrator 'closed some doors. Yes, I'm extremely disappointed."

And that's where current Hart County coach Joby Scroggs comes into the picture. The two men coached together at Hart County and had always wanted to work together again. In fact, Scroggs was set to join Clarke Central's staff before the head coaching position with the Bulldogs opened up.

Having coached at both Clarke Central and Hart County, DeVane was exposed to a pair of Northeast Georgia's best rivalries in Hart County/Elbert County and Clarke Central/Cedar Shoals. One of my favorite stories from DeVane is the one where he discusses how the crowd for one of the Hart County/Elbert County games was so large, people were sitting on top of the fences and walls at the stadium, hoping to get a glimpse of the game.

He said the Hart County/Elbert County rivalry is the one to beat.

"The two counties have one high school each, everyone knows each other, families work together, go to church together, and in some casaes, they're kin folks," DeVane said. "This rivalry is one of the most intense and competitive rivalies in the state."

Hart County fans hope for lots of scenes like this one from the 1999 Georgia Dome.

And, in something which I sadly did not pick up on until last season's 24, DeVane shares a common name with famous character actor William DeVane.

"I like to tell people he's my uncle," he said. "I guess I'll leave the acting to Unc!"

Secretary of Defense Jack Heller may need Coach DeVane's assistance on 24.