JOURNAL SPORTS
Who are the biggest coaching influences on the guys who lead Shreveport-Bossier high school football teams? That’s this week’s Shreveport-Bossier Journal Coaches’ Roundtable question.
RODNEY GUIN, Calvary Baptist: “Former Haughton coach Will Marston. He gave me my first high school job and he showed me what loyalty was all about.”
COY BROTHERTON, Parkway: “I was lucky enough to grow up in a coaching office (at Haughton) and always looked up to my dad (Bob), my brother (Jason), Coach Guin, and Coach Marston. Those guys showed me how to be a Christian coach and a good husband and father.
“When I got hired at Airline in 2005, Toby Todd was the one coach that invested in me and taught me so much about coaching. In 2012 at Plain Dealing, David Bryant taught me so much about balancing family time and coaching.
“I’ve been fortunate to have so many people impact me.
MATTHEW SEWELL, Haughton: “It would be too hard to pinpoint just one football coach. There have been so many great guys and coaches that have invested in my life over the past 11 years.
“One outside of football would be Glenn Maynor. He took me under his wing when I was in high school and was the first person to tell me that he thought I could be a coach. He called Coach (Brad) Laird when I graduated high school and got me my first CECP coaching job at Ruston. Coach Maynor was instrumental in getting me my first real job at Haughton. He is super organized, always prepared, and always available.”
JOHN SELLA, Loyola: “My receivers coach in high school, Lance Strother, made a huge impact on my life. He’s at St. Thomas More now. He made football fun and connected with all of us on a personal level while also making us better and holding us accountable. He helped shape who I am as a person and coach and made us all better wide receivers.
“Richard Lary, Steven Geter and Todd Martinez have all also had a major impact on my life and the way I go about things.”
JEREMY WILBURN, Captain Shreve: “Bo Meeks has been a great personal friend of mine for many years. I was fortunate enough to have my first coaching job on his staff at Mangham nearly 20 years ago. He reached out to ask me about potentially getting into coaching when I finished playing ball in college and that simple phone call is probably the reason I’m in the position I’m in today.
“He has always been there for me if I had a question about the game or how to plan practice or whatever football-related activities may arise. In addition, he’s been a constant in my life professionally when I would seek guidance on potential career moves or possible assistant coaching hires I’d be making. He’s been invaluable to me in every way throughout my entire football journey. I can’t thank him enough for being the quality friend and mentor he’s been for me.”
DENNY DURON, Evangel: I actually tried to quit at Louisiana Tech my freshman year after having a horrible game at ULL as a wide out. Coach (Maxie) Lambright heard me out and then he said, ‘If you quit now, Denny, you will think of this last bad game for the rest of your life.’ He said, ‘I’ll let you quit, but only after you do something to help us win a football game … then come to me and I will let you quit.” Of course, the rest is history. I never asked to quit again.”
STACY BALLEW, Byrd: “Mike Suggs, who was our head coach at Byrd, and our offensive line coach Mike Desadier have been great influences for me.”
THEDRICK HARRIS, Woodlawn: “Jerry Baldwin was our assistant head coach and linebacker coach when I played at Louisiana Tech. He was also the FCA leader and those meetings were very powerful. He had a huge impact on all of us, even when we were hard headed and didn’t want to listen. He was always concerned about how we were living and conducting ourselves — even to this day.”
REYNOLDS MOORE, Benton: “Almost the entire staff I inherited 12 years ago had been together for 20-plus years. I learned a lot from those guys for sure. Specifically, Barry Plunkett and Don Bihm. I’m a better coach because of them. They willingly learned a new offense and were able to help me make it better and add some wrinkles we still use today.
“And obviously, having Mitch Downey here those first few years was great. Sometimes I’d walk in his office with an issue or problem. He’d stop me and ask ‘Do you want my advice or do you just want to complain?’
“I am definitely a better coach because of those guys.”
GARY SMITH, Bossier: “I was a DC for Mike Greene for six years at a young age and he was a big influence on my career. Also I have a lot of respect for Anthony McClain and Jason Brotherton. I have always looked up to them and their professionalism.
“Working for Chuck Dupree early in my career was big. Mitch Downey, Jim Gatlin, and Billy Don McHallfey were big influences.”
STEPHEN DENNIS, Huntington: “First and foremost is Jim Gatlin. Coach Gatlin was the first person that told me I should be a coach. I don’t think that I would be in this profession if it wasn’t for his encouragement while I was a young person. I had the pleasure of coaching for him the first eight out of 10 years that I was a coach. So much of what I am as a coach is a testament to his influence. We are still very close and talk almost weekly.
“I’m very close with Scott Abernathy and we talk almost every week about film, scheme and everything under the sun.”
GARY COOPER, Booker T. Washington: “Coach Mike Green at Southwood. I was his OC for five years at Mansfield. During that time, he coached me up and got me ready to be a head coach. I am forever grateful for the brotherhood we have.”
JUSTIN SCOGIN, Airline: “That’s an easy one. Coach (David) Feaster has always been my go-to guy with questions or concerns about anything. I worked with him for eight years between Leesville and Parkway. We had some really good times.”
JAMES BRADFORD JR., Green Oaks: “This is a tough one because I’m thankful to have many that have poured in to help develop me. I can always call Coach Suggs or Ab for that big stuff. However, Coach Bilbo from my playing days to my coaching days was always there to give that support football and track wise … Ballew and Pope played huge part in my growth on the defensive side of the ball.
“Most recently, a group of local young coaches and seasoned guys formed Coach Phi Coach, where weekly we motivate each other and share ideas!”
ANTHONY JOHNSON, Magnolia School of Excellence: “Steven Grant, the current principal at Green Oaks High School, has been my best influence as my former football and track coach.”
AUSTIN BROWN, Northwood: “Dean Johnson, who is AD at Natchitoches Central, and was a great college track and field coach working with his dad (Leon) at Northwestern. He did coach a little football as a young man at DeRidder. I would not be the coach, teacher, father, husband, or person I want to be, if not for him.
“He’s an awesome mentor and best friend – and he’s the best coach I’ve ever met or studied.”