I've always thought Jeff Cruce was one of the finest coaches in the Lowcountry-  he's an offensive guy, played on the O-Line for Clemson's National Championship team, and his teams at Hanahan were always the most fun to watch.  He took that program from bottom to top and there was nothing more fun than watching Hanahan games last year with Jon Carnell and Brandon Ford---my favorite story about Coach Cruce was a game I was shooting on his sideline--he walked by me and said, "Scott, you better be rolling your camera on this play--85 yard touchdown."  Low and behold---Carnell airs it out---Ford pulls it down and takes off towards paydirt.  It was unreal--showed the true cockiness of Jeff Cruce, but what makes him a great HS coach.  He's tough, but willing to air it out and have fun, he makes it exciting for fans and doesn't play afraid.  Just watch Cane Bay--they may not be scoring or winning this year, but they're young, they're inexperienced---they'll be the next Hanahan.

The other coach on my elite list is Art Craig at Timberland.  He's will one day be a Berkeley County legend--first for his work at Cross HS and now for what he's doing at Timberland.  He's lucky, he's always coached in an area that is truly football crazy--look at the guys who've made it to the NFL from there--you can't even count them on 2 hands.  But Coach Craig knows how to refine talent--he's a football guy, he goes upon his business, and is unbeliebeably organized.  On the first day of practice, when other teams are doling out equipment and getting guys in position--Timberland is practicing.  They're already in their offensive schemes, they're goin out there to work on making their next State Championship game.  He's put a tiny school in the middle of nowhere on the map, and there is no doubt in my mind he should lead them to a state championship this year.  Craig is the kind of guy who could coach anywhere--his knowledge of the game is unreal, he's a football guy, and if he was willing to leave Berkeley County, I'd assume he could Coach at any 4-A power HS in this state.

When you talk about "legends"--i put 3 in that category.  John McKissick, Ray Stackley and Jerry Brown.  All 3 in their own way, but all 3 certified Lowcountry Legends---2 already have fields or stadiums named after them--Jerry Brown's should come soon, it would have already been if he hadn't gotten many of his career wins at Fairfield Central before coming to Berkeley.  Through ups and downs, all 3 are consumate professionals--all 3 are readily accessable for whatever we ask and all 3 are guys who make true impacts on their kids.  I've never heard a current or former player say a bad word about any of these 3--they know how to Coach, they know how to teach and all 3 are deserved legends--whether they're winning or not this year.

Let's talk about some "Young Gun" coaches.  I'm a big fan of Jimmy Brown at North Charleston--he's first and foremost a fantastic mentor, who really looks out for his kids.  And he's a fun coach to watch-- North Charleston teams run all sorts of misdirections, trick plays, weird alignments and flat out wacky stuff--but they can win.  Jimmy knows his football,  he played in college and brings that toughness to his teams.  The one thing I like about him is he is never satisfied---even after a hard fought win, he finds things his teams need to work on, and I like that.   Another Coach like Jimmy Brown is Jonathan Rose at Burke--this is a team that had 10 guys out there on the first day of practice---as more guys come, the more the Bulldogs win.  Now, they're a certifiable team to watch in the Lowcountry-  his offense is much like Jeff Cruce's offenses---not afraid to go for the big play and have some fun--makes it a bit easier to do when you've got a QB like Del Javon Simmons with an absolute cannon for an arm.  Rose is a former Ray Stackley player, so his kids get that "Coach Stack toughness if you will."

The list of former assistants making their mark as head coaches now--  Steve LaPrad at Fort Dorchester, Bob Hayes at Wando and Bobby Marion at West Ashley.  These 3 to me are the ones that are at their schools for the long haul.  These three know their football inside and out, know how to run a program inside and out, know how to get kids recruited, know how to win, know how to teach---they'll be the next "McKissick, Stackley, Brown" in my opinion.  LaPrad and Hayes are already proven- both know exactly what they're doing with their huge high schools-- Wando looks good this year--they made a coupla turnovers against Berkeley, but for the most part, really held in there in the 2nd half, down to the last play of the game. 

Finally, the top assistant to watch for a head coaching job.  First one, is Bob Hayes' offensive coordinator at Wando- Jimmy Noonan.  A former Citadel football player, he was on the track to be a coaching legend at Spring Valley in Columbia.  He moved to Sumter to be closer to his family and coach SCISA ball, but when his wife got a job in Charleston--the Noonan's ended up here, and Jimmy is an assistant at Wando.  A fantastic offensive coach--came in to Wando this year, and the changes are obvious already-  He is a career head coach, and any school that has an opening would be flat out dumb not to take Jimmy Noonan as their next head coach- Spring Valley is a HUGE HS in the Midlands, so he knows how to handle a program, knows how to win--he's done it.  He won't be an assistant for long. 

I've Rambled Long Enough!

til next time-

Scott