CHATSWORTH, Ga. – Like most football coaches, Preston Poag is rather obsessed with planning.
As a result, the just-named head football coach at North Murray High School will be plenty busy the next few weeks.
Poag, after compiling a 24-20 record in Class A Christian Heritage’s first four seasons of play in the Georgia High School Association, was named this week to replace David Gann at North Murray. The former Dalton and North Carolina State University player is, obviously, ready to get going.
“I don’t know a lot of the players over there, so this is a real exciting part of it for me to get to know them,” Poag said. “We’re going to work them hard, and it’s going to be a team atmosphere. The biggest thing is having the attitude you can win, no matter who you play, which is something my teams at Christian Heritage always had.”
North Murray, which will play in the subdivided Region 6-AAA on the opposite side of power Calhoun, has yet to have a winning season in six years of varsity play. Gann was 18-22 in four years and led the program to two five-win seasons.
Poag sees a program ready to break out.
“We’ve scrimmaged over there a couple of times, and I’ve always thought it’s a place that has a lot of potential,” he said. “Their facilities are as good as it gets, and I’ve watched their teams and know they have some good young talent. I’ve also looked at how that region is divided, and it’s a situation where they can be successful.”
Poag plans to spend the next few weeks evaluating both his personnel and the current group of assistant coaches. He plans to put the Mountaineers through spring practice, likely in late April.
“I’m going to talk to the players Monday or Tuesday, and I plan to start getting my coaching staff together,” he said. “We need to find the fits, guys who are loyal and are all in and are great with kids. I’ve got some guys in mind. I’ve got time, so I want to make sure we do it the right way.”
One aspect of his new job that especially excites Poag is the move up to triple-A and the chance to help develop area rivalries. Christian Heritage, playing in Region 6-A, had just one area team to consider as a rival, Trion.
“I’m excited about playing local schools and developing local rivalries with programs like Murray County and Coahulla Creek,” Poag said. “We didn’t have that opportunity at Christian Heritage because we were in a region of mostly private schools from Atlanta.”
Poag admitted leaving Christian Heritage was difficult, especially one season after leading the program to its first playoff win.
“The hardest part is leaving the kids I’ve had for the past five years,” he said. “To think how far our facilities and program have come gives me pride.”
Poag was also Christian Heritage’s baseball coach. The school has filled that spot with his brother, Jay Poag, who also will serve as interim football coach and will be considered for the full-time position.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22