AL JOHNSON NEW SPOTSY HEAD COACH!

[skynard1]

The school board last night approved Al Johnson as expected to be the new head coach of spotsy! during a hiring freeze in the county the principal told me he had no choice but hire someone in the system. if I told you I am disappointed a veteran program building coach wasn't hired that would be correct. I felt this program couldn't afford another novice coach like the last two and I still feel so!
BUT!
we need to support this young man and give him a fair chance! every great coach had to start somewhere at the bottom and who's to say he won't turn out to be another Tim Coleman or Ken Brown. knight nation needs to give him all the support possible as in the shape of this program he will surely need it. lets be positive knight fans and give him a fair chance. if you played under Ken Brown and Tim Coleman surely a foundation has been started to have someone build the boys from post oak back to what it used to be! GOOD LUCK AL JOHNSON!

http://www.fredericksburg.com/sports/fls_varsity/high-school-football-spotsylvania-knights-name-johnson-football-coach/article_f2b7de6e-1ec9-5a63-ad3d-4425587cff33.html
This post was edited on 2/10 8:01 AM by skynard1

 

[throwdaball11]

Rusty Davis and his boy does it again. Claiming there is a hiring freeze in the county and slapping Tim Coleman in the face by offering him 3500 dollars to coach. That was Davis's way of getting Coach Coleman out of the mix. I hope Johnson works out for the sake of the kids, but I know better than that, hopefully Johnson hires some good assistants? But I bet Rusty Davis will have Coach Johnson put Dietz back on the staff and I would not be surprised if the old head coach is given a position because Rusty said so. No change was made at all, Johnson was on the staff last year and sat in the press box? Once again Rusty does the boys from Post Oak some bad justice, so thank Rusty Davis folks, he will be back on the sidelines next year, let's just hope Davis does not threaten the offensive coach not to throw another pass, like he did last year. The season will start off with a bang when the Knights play Eastern View week one, don't cross your fingers folks, the Knights will be blown out week one, Thank Rusty Davis.

 

[throwdaball11]

Hey Skynard, aren't you the mayor out at post oak, how are you going to let the principle pull some stuff like this?? what are the parents gonna say about this hire? WHAT KIND OF GOOD OL BOY NETWORK is this, they did not even attempt to interview anyone from outside, I know there's a hiring freeze, and no teaching positions available right? Of course there are no positions available, it's the middle of the school year, we can only pay 3500$??? how did Davis even become a principle? I can't believe the crap that is going on out at Post Oak, crazy, THE NEW COACH DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO INSTALL AN OFFENSE, WHAT!!

 

[skynard1]

Did all I could do out there. had a couple well qualified coaches try to apply but was told a hiring freeze was out there so they didn't apply. talked to davis myself for a half hour or so and he was set on hiring within. I agree with you about the freeze. how in the middle of the year can you tell what teachers are coming back and with the 18 thousand dollar buy out the school board offered to veteran teachers to take a early retirement I would think some will take advantage of that and a lot of teaching positions would open up next year somewhere in the school system. i'm sure the schools will send out early retirement forms to the teachers and could tell who would take advantage of the early retirement and then have some openings. if I would have been him I would have seen who was leaving next year and waited to hire a coach late and hire a veteran experienced coach but who am I. one thing that makes me suspicious of the hiring is Davis done the same thing this time as he did when he hired Lawranus. when he came to spotsy to become the principal he brought Lawranus with him and made Mathius take him back on his staff. last year he brings Johnson to spotsy as a assistant and after a year he is the new head coach. now is this a coincidence or not. now Rusty lied to me a bunch of times on the Lawranus hiring but I hope he is on the up and up this time. we shall see.
now what it is it is! too late to fuss about it now! what we need to do as spotsy fans is put all our time and support behind Al Johnson. every coach has to start somewhere and lets hope we hit a homer with him and he is the next Coleman Brown or Serbay! lets give him a fair shot. lets hope Davis don't do what he did with Lawranus let him linger on and on with no improvement. I don't expect a state title or even a district title in the next 3 years but I expect improvement in the program in the next three years. at least be 5 and 5 or beat a good team once in a while and be competitive. this is something we didn't accomplish the last 10 years since Coleman left. the only decent team we beat in that time was a decent chancellor team without a hurt Dominique Wallace. that is ridiculous in my opinion! one positive thing I heard tonight about Johnson from a couple players parent was the kids like him. if this is true then he has won half the battle. in any coaches tenure the players have to like him as they need to buy in to his systems for him to succeed. so lets be positive about that and give our support to him! only time will tell and I feel if no improvement is made in the next 3 years a change should be made. good luck Al Johnson!



This post was edited on 2/10 10:56 PM by skynard1

 

[RawMeat2005]

Will be interesting to see how it plays out. Sounds like this was the plan since he joined the staff last year. I've only heard positive things about him, but lack of coaching experience seems like a big ? Wonder will Timmy help him fill out his staff or are all the old coaches staying.

 

[throwdaball11]

I can assure you that was the plan all along, Davis is sneaky like that. I also hope Johnson has the gull to keep Davis off the sideline, I was told by a parent that Davis had a player hold an umbrella for a photographer during one of the games last year. As far as coach Coleman helping out Johnson, Coleman is too busy with his program as when as his speed camps, how could he have the time? Yes from what I have heard as well is that the kids like Johnson, but he is unproven when it comes to X's and O's, someone will have to have a good knowledge of the Wing-T in order to call the plays.

 

[skynard1]

WAS TOLD SINCE MATHIUS IS STILL TEACHING AT SPOTSY THEY WOULD LIKE HIM TO BE A ASSISTENT TO ADD SOME EXPERENCE TO THE STAFF. I DOUBT MYRAN WOULD LEAVE COURTLAND AS THEY ARE PACED TO HAVE A GOOD TEAM WITH A BUILT PROGRAM UNLIKE SPOTSY. I REALLY HAD HOPED FOR A VETERAN COACH AS HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO CUT HIS TEETH LIKE A NOVICE HEAD COACH AND A VETERAN COACH WOULD ADVANCED THE REBUILDING PROGRAM FASTER THAN A NOVICE ONE. BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. I FEEL IF YOU ARE GOING TO HIRE A NOVICE COACH HIRE ONE THAT HAS BEEN A OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR THAN WHAT HE DID HIRING A DEFENSE COORDINATOR. DEFENSE IMO IS EASIER TO COACH THAN RUNNING THE OFFENSE. SO LETS HOPE HE DOES THE DEFENSE AND FIND A EXPERENCED COACH TO RUN THE OFFENSE!
AS FOR TIMMY HELP FINDING HIS ASSISTENTS I DOUBT IT. I REALLY FEEL THERE IS NO ONE ON THAT STAFF SHOULD RETURN. THEY HAD NOTHING TO OFFER IMO. THIS TEAM NEEDS A WHOLESALE CHANGE AS THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. I WANT THIS GUY TO HAVE A DECENT CHANCE AND THE PARENTS AND FANS NEED TO GIVE HIM TOTAL SUPPORT FOR HIM TO SUCCEED.

 

[skynard1]

Totally agree with you about running the wing t. TIM can set it up for him but he will not have the time to spend putting the players in the correct positions to best suit the t. also he wont be at the games running the offense to make adjustments to make it work. I would suggest they hire a veteran o coordinator experienced in running the t but how will they do it with the so called hiring freeze! it will have to be a non teacher. I wish him well but imo if there is no improvement in the program in 3 years you have to replace him. we shall see!
This post was edited on 2/11 8:41 PM by skynard1

 

[shauntclair]

This made me bother to look something up. The Spotsy Budget is pretty open book so I checked on the Salary for Head Football Coaches.The 2015 Budget says Coaches get $3159. From my reading and interpretation of what was presented, I cannot find anything to bring me to a conclusion that this number differed for ANY head Football Coach in the County. Years of service and record of accomplishment do not seem to be a factor

So, from what I'm seeing from page 365 of the approved 2015 budget, Coaches Hall, Oliver and now Johnson all get the same stipend. I could be interpreting wrong and I am certainly no School Budget professional. But unless someone with more in depth knowledge of the situation can provide better insight, I am forced to conclude that Davis's offer to Coleman was, indeed, the best he could do.

 

[WP02alum]

Most school divisions offer a standard head coaching stipend as well as stipends for assistants. These are standardized from school to school. Everyone gets the same support from the school division. HS football coach is not a profession when it comes to compensation (at least not at any VA schools that I know of).

Where things can differ is the schools can supplement these stipends with private funding from booster groups if they choose to. Usually in most VA high schools, these groups raise money to help fund the needs of the program, but it's not against the rules for them to provide the coaches with an additional stipend. Not sure what money is available at Spotsy HS within whatever football booster organization they have. If Davis desired to, he could leverage some support with boosters to provide an additional stipend. Davis either did not desire to, or the football booster support at Spotsy wouldn't provide for that. Not sure if there's any precedent for that at any of the Spotsylvania County schools. I'd actually be interested to hear about what schools in VA do this currently. Would be interesting to know.

 

[skynard1]

the boosters don't have that kind of money now! I got out the boosters 6 years ago and when I left we had that kind of money to do that.we had a very active and strong boosters then but when me and mr brooks left about everyone followed and now they have very little money and a very weak club.
I stated on a earlier post that I would come back out there and me and mr brooks would get most the members back and pay coleman or at least try to get the money or subsidize what the stipend they offered him. on the phone with Davis the other night he informed me they are not allowed to do that anymore. now weather he was blowing smoke to me I don't know. I offered every option I knew to get Tim Coleman or another outside coach and he rejected everything I suggested. he seemed bound and determined to hire within.
now let me say this. weather me the parents or fans like it or not Rusty Davis has the right to pick who he wants and submit the person to the school board for final approval. as the principal of Spotsylvania high school he has the right to do that no matter what we think! I have been told by some ex school board members if he really wanted a special coach he could move people around and hire him. you know there will be openings as teachers move around and jobs come open at schools end weather it is in the high school or middle schools. they are offering a 18 thousand dollar early retirement to veteran teachers this year and you know some will take it making jobs available. I guess no one knows but him who he could have hired but as I said he is well within his rights as principal to do what he did! it is what it is and now I say we need to support Al Johnson as to turn this thing around he is going to need all the support he can get!
This post was edited on 2/14 6:49 PM by skynard1

 

[hamspear]

Boosters paying a coaching bonus? not saying it isn't happening, but I don't think it is happening very much. Great coaches don't do it for the 3k anyway. they do it because they love the game, and they love seeing young talent develope. At Sherando , if they payed a football coach for the actual time they put into their coaching duties, it would be for more than there teaching salary. I know they don't do it for the money, that is the kind of coach Spotsy needs, a young pationate one, hungry to win, not wanting to pad the pocket with some Ben Franklins.

 

[Spotsylvaniafootball]

Woah, hold on there. Spotsy does have a few good senior and young athletes on the roster. Such as Chris Recabo(QB RB), Mike Shelton (FB LB), Rj Howard (WR RB), Junior Hunter Myers (G DT), a monster of a man Evan Hudgins (T DT) and former offensive MVP Alex Rappa(RB CB). Zach McClaren (MLB) and Michael Genalo (SS OLB) were both 2nd- Team all conference. Charlie Lewis(QB FB DE) will most likely be called up if he can keep his record clean and Reece Recabo(RB) and Tyler Marshall (WR FS) can also make strong contributions as sophomores. Now I know the middle school team wasn't exactly A powerhouse, but the Poast Oak O-line held their own against better schools, Tucker Sorrell has some wheels on him and good moves to break tackles, and Daquan Carter (QB SB WR CB) , brother of Darius Carter, the best basketball player here since the 90's, is one of the top class of 2019 athletes in the country! To top it off, no one knows that they also are receiving Zin White (RB OLB FS SS DE) is a promising freshman who can lead coming in from the 2014 Middle School Champion Spotsy Middle School. My final point is that don't give up on Coach Johnson, ol' Rusty, or the Spotsylvania Football Program just yet, because withy the right leadership and chemistry, the boys will be a force to be reckoned with. Maybe even a district title or even state title is in possible before 2020!

Below I have all the measurables for both key and prospective players of 2015 available

A. Rappa(RB CB)- SR, 5'8" 140 lbs, 40-4.60, Vert-27.5", Bench- 160lbs, Squat-260lbs
R. Howard(WR RB)-SR, 5'10", 175lbs
M. Shelton(FB LB)-JR, 5'11", 210lbs
Z. McClaren(MLB)-SR, 5'9", 170lbs
Z. White (RB FS SS OLB DE)-FR, 5'8", 165lbs, 40-4.65, Vert-30", Bench-190, Squat-225, Short Shuttle- 4.2
C. Recabo(QB RB)-SR, 5'11", 170lbs, 40-4.60, Short Shuttle- 4.10, Vert- 25", Bench-225lbs, Squat- 24lbs
H. Myers(G DT)-JR, 6'2", 220lbs, 40-4.90, Short Shuttle- 4.62, Bench-265lbs, Squat-400lbs
E. Hudgins(T DT)-SR, 6'3", 300lbs, 40-5.00, Vert-17.5, Bench-275lbs, Squat-505lbs
M. Genalo(SS OLB)-SR, 5'11", 185, 40-4.50, Vert-32", Bench-265lbs, Squat-405 lbs

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3141324/mike-shelton

 

[RawMeat2005]

Woah, hold on there. Spotsy does have a few good senior and young athletes on the roster. Such as Chris Recabo(QB RB), Mike Shelton (FB LB), Rj Howard (WR RB), Junior Hunter Myers (G DT), a monster of a man Evan Hudgins (T DT) and former offensive MVP Alex Rappa(RB CB). Zach McClaren (MLB) and Michael Genalo (SS OLB) were both 2nd- Team all conference. Charlie Lewis(QB FB DE) will most likely be called up if he can keep his record clean and Reece Recabo(RB) and Tyler Marshall (WR FS) can also make strong contributions as sophomores. Now I know the middle school team wasn't exactly A powerhouse, but the Poast Oak O-line held their own against better schools, Tucker Sorrell has some wheels on him and good moves to break tackles, and Daquan Carter (QB SB WR CB) , brother of Darius Carter, the best basketball player here since the 90's, is one of the top class of 2019 athletes in the country! To top it off, no one knows that they also are receiving Zin White (RB OLB FS SS DE) is a promising freshman who can lead coming in from the 2014 Middle School Champion Spotsy Middle School. My final point is that don't give up on Coach Johnson, ol' Rusty, or the Spotsylvania Football Program just yet, because withy the right leadership and chemistry, the boys will be a force to be reckoned with. Maybe even a district title or even state title is in possible before 2020!

Below I have all the measurables for both key and prospective players of 2015 available

A. Rappa(RB CB)- SR, 5'8" 140 lbs, 40-4.60, Vert-27.5", Bench- 160lbs, Squat-260lbs
R. Howard(WR RB)-SR, 5'10", 175lbs
M. Shelton(FB LB)-JR, 5'11", 210lbs
Z. McClaren(MLB)-SR, 5'9", 170lbs
Z. White (RB FS SS OLB DE)-FR, 5'8", 165lbs, 40-4.65, Vert-30", Bench-190, Squat-225, Short Shuttle- 4.2
C. Recabo(QB RB)-SR, 5'11", 170lbs, 40-4.60, Short Shuttle- 4.10, Vert- 25", Bench-225lbs, Squat- 24lbs
H. Myers(G DT)-JR, 6'2", 220lbs, 40-4.90, Short Shuttle- 4.62, Bench-265lbs, Squat-400lbs
E. Hudgins(T DT)-SR, 6'3", 300lbs, 40-5.00, Vert-17.5, Bench-275lbs, Squat-505lbs
M. Genalo(SS OLB)-SR, 5'11", 185, 40-4.50, Vert-32", Bench-265lbs, Squat-405 lbs

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3141324/mike-shelton

Great to hear there is some fire down at SHS that being said I've heard Zin and a lot of those SMS boys will be in Royal and grey this fall. No idea where he is zoned but he is always at CHS sporting events with other 8th graders from SMS

 

[shauntclair]

Woah, hold on there. Spotsy does have a few good senior and young athletes on the roster. Such as Chris Recabo(QB RB), Mike Shelton (FB LB), Rj Howard (WR RB), Junior Hunter Myers (G DT), a monster of a man Evan Hudgins (T DT) and former offensive MVP Alex Rappa(RB CB). Zach McClaren (MLB) and Michael Genalo (SS OLB) were both 2nd- Team all conference. Charlie Lewis(QB FB DE) will most likely be called up if he can keep his record clean and Reece Recabo(RB) and Tyler Marshall (WR FS) can also make strong contributions as sophomores. Now I know the middle school team wasn't exactly A powerhouse, but the Poast Oak O-line held their own against better schools, Tucker Sorrell has some wheels on him and good moves to break tackles, and Daquan Carter (QB SB WR CB) , brother of Darius Carter, the best basketball player here since the 90's, is one of the top class of 2019 athletes in the country! To top it off, no one knows that they also are receiving Zin White (RB OLB FS SS DE) is a promising freshman who can lead coming in from the 2014 Middle School Champion Spotsy Middle School. My final point is that don't give up on Coach Johnson, ol' Rusty, or the Spotsylvania Football Program just yet, because withy the right leadership and chemistry, the boys will be a force to be reckoned with. Maybe even a district title or even state title is in possible before 2020!

Below I have all the measurables for both key and prospective players of 2015 available

A. Rappa(RB CB)- SR, 5'8" 140 lbs, 40-4.60, Vert-27.5", Bench- 160lbs, Squat-260lbs
R. Howard(WR RB)-SR, 5'10", 175lbs
M. Shelton(FB LB)-JR, 5'11", 210lbs
Z. McClaren(MLB)-SR, 5'9", 170lbs
Z. White (RB FS SS OLB DE)-FR, 5'8", 165lbs, 40-4.65, Vert-30", Bench-190, Squat-225, Short Shuttle- 4.2
C. Recabo(QB RB)-SR, 5'11", 170lbs, 40-4.60, Short Shuttle- 4.10, Vert- 25", Bench-225lbs, Squat- 24lbs
H. Myers(G DT)-JR, 6'2", 220lbs, 40-4.90, Short Shuttle- 4.62, Bench-265lbs, Squat-400lbs
E. Hudgins(T DT)-SR, 6'3", 300lbs, 40-5.00, Vert-17.5, Bench-275lbs, Squat-505lbs
M. Genalo(SS OLB)-SR, 5'11", 185, 40-4.50, Vert-32", Bench-265lbs, Squat-405 lbs

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3141324/mike-shelton

I appreciate the real knowledge and apparent research you've put into this reply. Here's the bottom line I've seen every year I've watched Spotsy and that's been a lot. They simply cannot keep up athletically. They are too slow and they lose heart. They can get more heart but they simply can't overcome the fact that they don't have the athletes to keep up with most teams they face. Why that is, is a subject for anthropology.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Damn Shaunty! That was hard.

 

[Spotsylvaniafootball]

Great to hear there is some fire down at SHS that being said I've heard Zin and a lot of those SMS boys will be in Royal and grey this fall. No idea where he is zoned but he is always at CHS sporting events with other 8th graders from SMS

I know I know he is closely comedy with a lot of future CHS and MHS students at his school. But he has assured his friends and his coaches that he will Be in Red next year. Although one player can't make a team, SHS will surely be lucky to have a player of Zin's caliber

 

[Spotsylvaniafootball]

I appreciate the real knowledge and apparent research you've put into this reply. Here's the bottom line I've seen every year I've watched Spotsy and that's been a lot. They simply cannot keep up athletically. They are too slow and they lose heart. They can get more heart but they simply can't overcome the fact that they don't have the athletes to keep up with most teams they face. Why that is, is a subject for anthropology.

You have a lot of good points especially because yes Spotsy just has not been successful since the mid 90s. But who says these years coming up can't be more of the Golden Years for Spotsy? Now I know maybe some of the expectations might be a little much for those boys, but I can promise you with the coaching change the quality players SHS has coming in, it'll be a whole lot different than the past 15 years. Expect many winning seasons and some playoff appearances

 

[shauntclair]

You have a lot of good points especially because yes Spotsy just has not been successful since the mid 90s. But who says these years coming up can't be more of the Golden Years for Spotsy? Now I know maybe some of the expectations might be a little much for those boys, but I can promise you with the coaching change the quality players SHS has coming in, it'll be a whole lot different than the past 15 years. Expect many winning seasons and some playoff appearances

There is always hope and optimism. GL to the Knights in 2015.

 

[skynard1]

the trouble with spotsy is the teams in the district will be just as strong or stronger than last year. other than caroline that may be the only team in the district they could beat. JM lost some speedy receivers and a all state qb but a good running back from W@ L has transferred there and the addition of last years JV championship players they will be strong again. courtland returns almost everyone as chancellor too. KG had a young team last year and with the good looking athletes I saw in the JV championship game against JM last year they will be better. so it aint going to be easy for spotsy to be much better than last season. I want them to be competitive this year something they haven't done since coleman left. good luck boys from post oak!

 

[RawMeat2005]

the trouble with spotsy is the teams in the district will be just as strong or stronger than last year. other than caroline that may be the only team in the district they could beat. JM lost some speedy receivers and a all state qb but a good running back from W@ L has transferred there and the addition of last years JV championship players they will be strong again. courtland returns almost everyone as chancellor too. KG had a young team last year and with the good looking athletes I saw in the JV championship game against JM last year they will be better. so it aint going to be easy for spotsy to be much better than last season. I want them to be competitive this year something they haven't done since coleman left. good luck boys from post oak!

Big shocker JM getting transfer players... I saw a thread on Hylton recruiting, but no one seems to talk about JM magically getting kids from all over the place. You'd think after that dad in the FLS basically admitted he had talked to JM about moving his kid there someone would step in.

 

[maroons1]

Who is the player from W&L?

 

[shauntclair]

Big shocker JM getting transfer players... I saw a thread on Hylton recruiting, but no one seems to talk about JM magically getting kids from all over the place. You'd think after that dad in the FLS basically admitted he had talked to JM about moving his kid there someone would step in.

JM gets kids to come there because of their program. They don't ask for the kids. They don't recruit. The kids seek. Keyshawn Johnson sought. The kid from Chancellor sought. The parents make the decisions and everything is done within the rules. No different than Oscar Smith. If you build it, they will come.

Also, the Chancellor parent absolutely admitted to talking to JM Coach's. He approached them and asked questions about the program. That's not a violation.

 

[skynard1]

Who is the player from W&L?

His name escapes me! learned about it the other day when we played JM in baseball. asst coach for JM told me his name but I forgot it. of course coach serbay is the baseball coach now and he loves coaching baseball he told me. the legend is retiring from teaching but told me he has no intentions of not coaching football. glad to hear that as it wouldn't be JM football without that legend coaching! he is having problems with his eyes now but still has that fire and desire in his belly!