CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - There's always pressure when a career assistant finally gets his shot at being a head football coach. When that first job also is at his alma mater, well, the pressure gauge gets a little hotter.
Josh Groce understands this, but the new Gordon Lee High School head coach wouldn't have it any other way. Groce, 37, was named this week as the successor to Greg Ellis, who has retired from coaching. Ellis, also a Gordon Lee grad, had two stints at the school totaling 12 seasons. He won 54 games and took the Trojans to the GHSA Class A quarterfinals in 2002 and finished with an 11-2 record.
"This is something I have been dreaming of and working toward for about 10 years now," said Groce, who had two stints as an assistant at Gordon Lee and one at Trion. "The good Lord has sent me on different journeys, including a rival school, but he's brought me home.
"I do believe there will be some pressure, just because people know exactly who I am. They know the expectations around this program, but that's a good kind of pressure because it will drive me to work harder."
Gordon Lee athletic director Todd Windham, himself a former head coach at his alma mater, believes Groce is the boost the program needs after going a combined 5-16 the past two seasons. First, though, Windham wanted to thank Ellis, with whom he worked as an assistant the past three seasons.
"I can't say enough about the kind of person Greg is," Windham said. "He loves Gordon Lee and the community. He and his family have done so much for this community.
"As for Josh, with this being his school, there is always that added motivation. It's a special thing, especially to be his first job. He's been around different programs and been a part of some successful teams. Having been on staff myself the last few years, you can't help notice the great rapport he has with the kids and his work ethic. He's the perfect guy for the job."
Groce said his plan is to build a program that is focused on winning as a team and not individual glory.
"First off, you have to change the culture," he said. "We have to change the expectations of the program. As far as wins and losses, we won't speak about that stuff. We'll talk about little things and let the wins and losses take care of themselves. Take the individualism out of it."
Groce has his staff in place. In addition to retained assistant coaches Mike Dunfee, Trevor Guinn, Jason Mull, Ricky Murdock and Darryl O'Neal, Groce has hired Todd Cassell from Heritage and Shane Cauthorn from LaFayette.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.