There are a handful of coaches here in the state that have been going through Week Zeroes for decades ... some at their jobs for an established amount of time and history ... and, then there are the ones that are just starting out as head coaches... 

Pick your cliche about “firsts,” but it ends up as a moment that your team’s fans won’t forget ... and coaches like the ones below won’t, either... 

Promise ... 

Jones County

Over at Jones County, Justin Montgomery brings his time at Carrollton as Defensive Coordinator to the sidelines in Gray for his first-ever head coaching gig. He was born in Wilkinson County and I had to look up where his hometown of McIntyre is. (It's north of Irwinton, the county seat). He left to find a job closer to home --6 for both sides of his family- and the Greyhounds beat Veterans last week for Montgomery to go 1-0. 

When I caught up with him, however, it was back to reality. 

“We have a washer that has flooded the locker room four times in the last two weeks,” he admits. “My AD and I are trying to find a used one that can, at least in the short term, get the job done.” Justin tells me they’re trying to rebuild the Touchdown Club with a new head coach, a new staff, and a new Athletic Director all at once. 

I asked about his time at Carrollton under Joey King and what he’s brought with him to Jones County and he admits that it’s a lot. 

“One of the first things that stuck with me was the idea of putting the players first and making sure that you find the right spot for them on the field. When it comes to management, it comes down to what the players know and what they can execute in those positions -- not what you know going in.” 

On Friday night Justin’s wife, Adrienne, stayed at home with their newborn son while the team went to Warner Robins to play. She gave him a big hug when he walked in the door very early Saturday morning.  

“The sacrifices she has made for us? Unbelievable! She’s a great wife!” 

And Justin is reminded about being joyful in the job and enjoying the success on game day. 

“You do have to stay focused,” he says. “After we won, one of the coaches gave me a big hug and smiled at me. Then, when I had a moment to pause, it did hit me about that first-ever win. You go and celebrate with the team. It was short and sweet to think about.” 

Short and sweet? Yeah ... he had to go and clean the locker room to get everything ready for the study on Woodland-Stockbridge on the road to start region play. 

“Go Hounds!” was how he got back to work... 

Wilcox County

Stephen McDuffie is the first-year coach at Wilcox County

Wilcox County

Legendary Wilcox County head coach Donnie Clack gave new Patriots coach Stephen McDuffie a big hug on Friday night after their win, 28-21, in Graymont-Summit (these days, known as Twin City). 

“He told me I was the first coach ever to beat ECI,” McDuffie tells me. And, apparently, it was a close race to who got to hug McDuffie first after the win- Coach Clack or Coach McDuffie’s wife. It was the latter ... and it was close. 

“It has been exciting so far,” he says. “We’ve really enjoyed it. The seniors have been fun to watch since we’ve seen them put in all the hard work since they were 8 years old. And there are ten coaches here that have gone through the program, so we all know what nights like last week mean.” They were down 21-7 at the half and came back to win, 28-21. 

“The ride to and from ECI was two hours each way,” McDuffie says. “We all got to reminisce on the bus ride home a little bit. But when you get home you shower and get the chance to lay down in bed you have it finally hit you that it was your first game and you won it.”  

It was 3 a.m.

Tradition in Rochelle means a lot. McDuffie is the sixth head coach for the program since 1980. The opportunity is there to stay, build, and succeed. For Stephen, he’s coaching on the same field he played on in high school. 

“Now, that’s cool,” he admits. 

When he has questions, he has coaches like his predecessor Rob Stowe, Bleckley’s Von Lassiter, and former Hawkinsville head coach Lee Campbell (he was a nine-year assistant in Pulaski County) on call and ask about what’s on his mind. As he gets ready for “Clinch at The Clack” this week, his main message for year one is to “do it your way and work hard doing it. Do that and make sure to make the program your own.” 

Clinch will be that early season test, for sure... 

Murray County

Jason Allen is the first-year head coach at Murray County.

Murray County

Jason Allen was a head coach in Virginia before he moved south to be an assistant under Richard Morgan at Marietta. But it has been a decade since the time at Potomac Falls.  

Why now? 

“I was interested in being a head coach again,” Allen admits. “I admit I was selective to apply and where to apply. But Murray County intrigued me. In a good way, their approach is an ‘old school’ approach. You see that people care. They’re a tight-knit community and, when we did our research, we found that people here care about their school.” 

Murray beat Towns County last week 14-3 on the long trip to Hiwassee and back. This week, they travel to Ringgold for Game 2. 

“The people here are great,” Allen says. “They’re more than supportive and have given us whatever we have needed so far since we’re new to the community.” 

When I asked about who he can call with questions, I asked if Coach Morgan was first on his list. I didn’t get the full question out before he admitted it was him. 

“He hired me as a 23-year-old out of college starting as a volunteer assistant on the junior varsity. It was 10 years there and our time in Virginia, then it was three years as Defensive Coordinator at Marietta. He’s like a big brother to me and, as a coach, he knows what he’s doing. His attention to detail where everything – everything -- is planned out. There is an obsession to detail and has always wants it done right.” 

Allen admits it’s “100 mph, 24/7 ‘til December, where you hope you’re playing for a championship” going forward. “You go home after Friday night and go to bed knowing it’ll start all over again. But the best part is the kids get to experience victory when they haven’t in a long time.” 

And, seeing that look will last more than one week, I’m fairly sure.

Play it safe, everyone... I’ll talk to you soon!