Mark MariakisTo say the state-runner-up finish, the four region championships and the numerous coach of the year awards don’t mean anything to Mark Mariakis would be missing the point.
The accomplishments of an 11-year period as head football coach at Ridgeland High School are important to Mariakis, as they would be to anyone, but moments after announcing his resignation Monday, he made it clear that those things are not what’s kept him going.
“It was tough to tell the team,” he said. “Like I also told the coaches, I told the kids that all the fluff around football is exciting, but it doesn’t compare with the relationship you have with players and coaches. I can remember here 11 years ago sitting in front of 17 players and a handful of parents, whereas now we have 130. That says something about what we have done here.”
It reminded Mariakis, whose final tally at Ridgeland reads 72 wins against 51 losses, of his first interview at the school, which had gone through several coaches in an attempt to find success.
“I remember telling them, ‘If you’re looking for someone who is going to be controlled by the scoreboard, then I’m not your guy. We want to try to build a program and not just a successful season,'” he recalled. “It was great timing, a combination. The first was getting our kids in the weight room during school. The next thing was hiring great football coaches.