07/25/2025
I’m looking forward to the start of my 26th year in coaching Monday! The longer I stay in the profession, the more I appreciate the players, coaches, and friends I’ve had the privilege to work and teach through the years. Time flies!! We’ve built lasting memories together through it all and I thank God for allowing me to be a small part of everyone’s life.
By choosing to play football in my younger days, I learned the value of hard work, dedication, and to never quit when facing adversity. I gained lifelong friendships with teammates, staff and good people associated with programs. A huge thank you to my high school coach Larry Lee who really invested in me. I think that’s what high school football coaching is all about. You’ve got to think beyond the field as much as you try to win on the field. Kids only have a couple of years in high school but many more in life.
I’d like to say thank you to all the coaches that invested in me throughout my career. Getting quality mentorship in coaching is key. It allowed me to learn a trade that can be passed forward from generation to generation. I’ve taken the best of what I’ve learned from each coach and made it my own, while at the same time developing my own philosopies. I’ve certainly been blessed.
My first year in coaching was at Wadley high school in 2000 under head coach Randy Sparks and boy were we good! I thought I knew a lot until I got there. He taught me how to operate a successful football program in ways I’d never considered before.
It’s been an awesome journey. This year I’ll be back in my home purple and gold (Geneva County High School) as an assistant under coach Al Gilmore who is doing an absolutely fantastic job with the program. I look forward to kicking it off next week.
God bless and Go Dawgs!
Coach Striplin