The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. VALDOSTA - Valdosta State football coach Gary Goff announced Sunday that he has taken the head coaching job at Division I and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member McNeese. There's a lot of other guys that haven't gotten this opportunity that deserve it. Classes resume Jan. 10 and Jackson has already made considerable efforts to connect with the team. This was her first time participating in the Georgia College Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, and as newsletter editor for The Spectator, she said she was quite surprised by a photography award. *Co-champions with the University of West Florida. Gruber, an English major (focus in journalism) from Baxley, Georgia, joined The Spectator about 18 months ago, starting as a reporter and working her way to campus life assistant, entertainment editor, and now editor-in-chief. During our search process, I had numerous Blazer football alums reach out in support of Coach Goff. And if anyone fell asleep it was understood that I was going to go over and dump it on their heads. David Dean was named head coach of the Blazers in 2007 after Chris Hatcher took the head coaching job at Georgia Southern University. The Mavericks finished 10th in total defense at 258.2 yards per game and 16th in total offense at 452.0 yards per game. [11] Dean left the Blazers to coach a single, unsuccessful year as co-offensive coordinator at FBS program Georgia Southern; both co-coordinators were fired after one year. I didnt know any of the covers were submitted for the competition. The 2005 season saw the first time the Blazers started the season ranked No. Then theres the short answer: Didnt winning those four national championships feel good? It was a great time, Leach said. Goff was named Gulf South. He amassed a 22-3 record, one national championship appearance, and one conference title. In 2021, Jackson coached two Academic All-Americans as well as one AFCA Second Team All-American. They get jobs that are 0-for the year before and get told to fix it. Years before the existence of offseason workouts and football generally becoming a year-round game, they were doing that in Valdosta. We had to make sure the fields were lined, remembered Will Muschamp, Valdosta States defensive coordinator in 2000 and now head coach at South Carolina. It was the most important time in my career.. The two high school powers didnt produce an eye-popping number of household names Jay Ratliff, Randall Godfrey and Kenny Moore are among the recent pros but nearly everyone played football, and did so very, very seriously. This category is for college football coaches at Valdosta State University.. He is the head football coach at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, a role he assumed in December 2021. The football programs he has been associated with have had great success on the field. The Spectator was honored at the 2023 Georgia College Press Association Press Institute in early April. This Blazer team looks a lot different, but in looking to build on last year's five win season, coach believes they're on the right path to doing just that. For the 2006 Season the Blazers wore silver helmets to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the VSU football program. The long answer is about finances. Bailey Wilson of Glennville, Georgia, finished third in the Best Photo Essay (Group I) category for her coverage of VSU Housing and Residence Lifes annual Hallaballoo event on the Front Lawn. Goff continued on the outstanding tradition of VSU football as the Blazers won their first ten games of the season, ranked #1 nationally throughout the regular season and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football playoffs. Valdosta State football coach Gary Goff announced Sunday that he has taken the head coaching job at Division I and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. The "Hatch-Attack" completed its first season 102, and were Gulf South Conference Champions with an 81 conference record, a dramatic improvement from their previous 47 season. Its hard to say that because you enjoy what you do, and Ive enjoyed every stop Ive had on the coaching carousel, and Ive been in a lot of places. I'm really excited about where we are going, not anywhere near where we need to be but so far, leaps and bounds beyond where we were and so we want to be able to build on that.". The 2018 season saw the Blazers go the campaign unbeaten at 140, earning the seventh GSC championship in program history and a fourth national championship by defeating Ferris State University 4947 in the national championship game in McKinney, Texas. Kerwin Bell, former Florida Gator quarterback, led the Valdosta State team that won the 2018 Division II National Championship. According to the Blazers' new leader, the goal for the returning Blazers is to finish the mission they fell short of in the national championship game. [16] Goff, a former Blazer captain and 1996 graduate of VSU, had gone 23-10 the prior three seasons at Tiffin. And earlier this summer, Leach called Goff at midnight eastern time, because Leach is now at Washington State. What everyone remembers is that it was hard work, but also fun. Smart did very well, and a year later he was on the move himself, taking a graduate assistant job under Bobby Bowden at Florida State, before rejoining Muschamp at LSU in 2004. Reinhard drove back to his home in Tallahassee, Fla., and his home phone rang from a prospective candidate, the defensive coordinator at Army, who had tracked him down. I was sitting in my office, talking on the phone, going through countless e-mails, looking at countless resumes, going through who in the world are we going to bring here to keep this thing going.". announced the forming of a football team, VSU president Hugh C. Bailey called an early morning 1981 meeting which included VP for Business Sam Brooks, Athletic Director Billy Grant and coach Dave Waples. "Just really proud about the growth and proud of our coaches, for going and getting better players," he said. The relationships. We didnt know anything different, said Gary Goff, then a Valdosta State receiver. Hatcher was the 1994 Harlon Hill Trophy winner. To recognize the 25th anniversary of the VSU football program, the Blazers wore silver helmets and pants in 2006. In his first year Dean's Valdosta State team won the 2007 Division II National Championship. First of all, hes a genius. I came here because of Mr. Reinhard. Rounding out the top three were The Red & Black at University of Georgia in first place and Technique at Georgia institute of Technology in third place. In 1994 the Blazer won a school record 11 victories and Quarterback Chris Hatcher won the Harlon Hill Award as player of the year in NCAA Division II football. Goff coached a league-best 13 All-GSC selections in 2019 and GSC Offensive Player of the Year Rogan Wells. Two years later the Blazers won the national championship, and they have won three more since then, including last year. On January 10, 2019, Bell left Valdosta State to accept the offensive coordinator position at South Florida.[15]. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images), Chris Hatcher went 76-12 and won the 2004 D-II National Championship in seven seasons as Valdosta States head coach from 2000-06. Valdosta and Lowndes developed a famously fierce rivalry over the years, one that one alum compared to the Hatfields and McCoys. Goff began as a walk-on for the Blazers in the spring of 1993 after transferring to VSU from the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, University Advising & Student Transitions, VSUs Spectator Wins Big at Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest, https://gapress.org/georgia-college-press-association/, 2023 Valdosta State University A Comprehensive University of the University System of Georgia, Office of Communications He is the driest, funniest individual I think Ive ever met. It's my responsibility to help them finish that mission. You're accepting me. But at Valdosta, it was the coaches passing out sandwiches. Valdosta Daily Times. Delta State University defeated the Blazers 3531, despite being down 28 points at the beginning of the second half. Valdosta State announces new head football coach, Teens arrested after 11 injured in South Carolina park shooting, Turner Co. Sheriffs Office to reward $1K for information on fireworks incident, Instant replay coming to Ga. championship football games, Photos: Atlanta Braves host Cairo Boys & Girls Club, Cairo-Grady Co. I think the individual awards gave the winners a lot of motivation by proving that they can do anything they set their minds to. Sanders, Publisher. The schools enrollment has actually dropped from 15,000 to 13,000 in the past few years, which cuts down on student fees to athletics. Mostly sunny skies. Coach Goff spent the last three seasons as the Blazers head football coach. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. On November 28, 2022, at approximately 8:27 am., a Valdosta Police Officer responded to a commercial business in the 1600 block of Clay Road after the owner called E911 to report a burglary. It was a great leap of faith by Reinhard, but he found a lot to like about Hatcher, including his connections. 15 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 in 2018. (He has argued the story didnt happen exactly that way, but Muschamp is adamant: That is 100 percent right.). Journalists do their job every day because they help to ensure that the public is informed and that those in power are held accountable for their actions.. The stadium is also the home of the historical Valdosta High School Wildcats. Smart now recalls watching that Valdosta State defense and its defensive coordinator. The 2021 fall edition of the Mavericks finished 13th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 15.6 points per game, while the team was 34th nationally in scoring offense at 33.7 points per game. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. During Goff's playing days he led the Blazers to their first ever championship in 1996. The Blazers open their 2023 slate at home against Point on September the 2nd. Using figures from the NFL's Play Football website, Valdosta's win total stands at 941 entering 2023. . I beat Kirby more than he beat me, Muschamp said. When practice would end during camp at a big school, even Kentucky in the 1990s, players would go to the cafeteria and food would be waiting for them. Bonner had transferred from Kentucky, so he had seen the differences in resources, which were glaring. The VSC/VSU Football program began in 1982, and its first coach was Jim Goodman. Boys and Girls Club attend Braves game to honor Jackie Robinson. Former Samford coaches include Bobby Bowden (later head coach at West Virginia and Florida State), Wayne Grubb (who led Samford to the NCAA College Division West Region II Championship in 1971), and Terry Bowden (later head coach at Auburn, North Alabama and Akron). There is a long answer, and a short one. Zack Poff Apr 26, 2023 Big out-of-state football games for 2023 It just wasnt the right fit. [13] Bell was formerly the head coach for the Jacksonville Dolphins, prior to joining Valdosta State. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. Reinhard said theres no timeline on the coaching search, but revealed hes already received tons of interest in the position. On Sunday, Valdosta State University (VSU) head football coach Gary Goff announced he has taken the head coaching position at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., according to VSU Athletics. In 2016, Goff guided the Dragons to their first winning season since the 2006 season as the team went 8-3 with Goff earning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coach of the Year honors, the first in program history. Communications and Media Relations Coordinator. I kid people that it was the most fun Ive ever had coaching, Smart said. Try a week on us. [8] In 2010, the VSU team tied with Delta State and Henderson State for the Gulf South Conference championship,[9] the only one in Dean's five years as head coach. Among those countless resumes was Jackson's, which Reinhard said he put in the "good stack" with the other top candidates. I had (to oversee) discipline runs on Saturday mornings, and I had study hall for academics because you didnt have an academic staff. David Dean is the only football coach in Valdosta State history to win two national championships. Assistant Athletic Trainer (Soccer and Men's Golf) cvbowser@valdosta.edu. This news comes just after the Blazers fell in the Division II national championship game. The first athlete from the VSC football team to play professional football was Jesse Tuggle. Goff will be introduced to the Lake Charles public . Other coaches include Mike Cavan, Hal Mumme, and Mike Kelly. He played for former Blazer head coach Hal Mumme and former offensive coordinator Mike Leach at Valdosta State and graduated in 1996. Junior long snapper Pippin Davis was named Second Team Academic All-America by CoSIDA. (Cavan would later become SMUs coach, too.) That's been awesome.". While at VSU, Goff and his teammates helped lay the foundation for where the VSU football program is today. Pickups. Mumme took over as head coach at Valdosta State University in 1992. Reinhard said he did not know prior to Saturday that Goff was leaving. Madison Gruber, editor-in-chief of The Spectator, said this was the first time VSUs college newspaper earned General Excellence recognition. He would go on to become West Virginias and Houstons head coach. The win gave VSU its third Division II National title in eight years. Goff earned his bachelors degree in business administration from VSU and holds a masters degree from Tiffin. Valdosta State was the first school to offer a safety at Bainbridge High School named Kirby Smart, and at one point Leach thought they were going to get him. In Coach Bell's first season, 2016, the Blazers finished the season 83. Valdosta State is the second football program to make a historic coaching hire in the last two months as Jackson joins Valdosta High School head football coach Shelton Felton as the second man of color to be named head coach of a football powerhouse in Valdosta. 2008 and 2010 were the only years VSU has made it to the NCAA Division II playoffs since the 2007 National Championship season. VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - On Monday, Valdosta State University (VSU) Athletics Department announced a new head coach to lead the Blazers in the upcoming season. 2022 Valdosta State Blazers football team, List of Valdosta State Blazers football seasons, NCAA Division II National Football Championship, "The Official Site of Valdosta State Blazers Athletics", "Wins, losses in Winnersville in '06 Valdosta Daily Times: Sports", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics CHAMPIONS AGAIN", http://vdtvarsity.ourvarsity.com/schools/school-article-profile.php?Article_ID=2017, "Gulf South Conference Official Site 201011 GSC Championships", "Few Changes in AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll", "Gulf South Conference Official Site Valdosta State Wins 2012 NCAA Football Title", Georgia Southern fires offensive coordinators Dean, Gillespie, Kerwin Bell Named Valdosta State Head Football Coach, No. I had the linemen. But Reinhard wanted something different. Better than they were a month ago, and most certainly a year ago. His Colorado Mesa team put lots of points on the board and was very stingy on defense. Prior to Goffs arrival in 2011, Tiffin University was a combined 2-31 from 2008-2010. "I think what impressed me, even more so than the football coach, is what else he brings to the table. He's picked four guys to go and compete for national championships and I thought to myself, if he picks me, I must have a chance.". Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. There will be an official introductory press conference for Jackson on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the arena of The Complex. (229) 333-5897 or 5477. In 2012 the Blazers posted a 122 record for the year and beat Winston-Salem State University 357 in the NCAA Division II National Football Championship in Florence, Alabama. That season, Goff also had the programs first Academic All-American as 74 players finished the 2016 fall semester with a 3.0 grade point average or higher. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) in NCAA Division II. Hes told me this many times: Goff, theres only a couple head coaches that Im ever jealous of and Im always jealous of whoever the coach is at Valdosta, because I love Valdosta, Goff said. Thats real, Reinhard said. They learned things they wouldnt have if they had started at a larger school. Cavan and Lee are two of the most important advisers now to Smart. Chris Hatcher was named the head coach of the Blazers in 2000. Our goal will be to do it as fast as we can but my goal more so is to make sure we do it right.
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