FOOTBALL

East Gaston once again seeking a new head football coach

Joe Hughes
jhughes@gastongazette.com
Former East Gaston football coach Jason Lippard (right) and other members of his coaching staff talk to players during their game against East Lincoln last season. [JOHN CLARK/THE GASTON GAZETTE]

For the second time in as many years, East Gaston is looking for a new head football coach.

Such is the case after Jason Lippard resigned from his post after one season on the job. According to East Gaston athletic director Ryan Resendez, the search for his replacement has already begun.

“It’s a really big commitment, not just in our county but in this country to coach high school athletics,” Resendez said. “But we appreciate all (Lippard) put into our players and the mentality that he’s instilled in them that we believe will lead to great things in the future.”

East Gaston is the second head coaching position to come open this offseason in Gaston County. Mike Patton stepped down as North Gaston head man in December.

Lippard took over a team that was unable to muster a victory during the 2018 football campaign. And while the Warriors finished 1-10 in his only season at the helm, the perception is he’s leaving the program in a better place than when he first arrived in Mount Holly.

“I just want people to know how phenomenal a job he did coming in,” Resendez said. “Any time you take over a struggling program, it’s a tough sell. But he took the job head on and was committed to helping our kids. Our football culture is headed in the right direction, and most of all he did a good job teaching our kids to compete.”

Possibly the most noticeable change in the football program has been a noticeable commitment to the weight room.

“Our whole program is behind in the weight room,” Lippard said in August. “So it has been a focal point of ours to get them stronger now. We lift every single day, and structure our practices to make sure our junior varsity and varsity players are all involved. We’re going to lift on game days and then have recovery lift sessions after games on Saturday mornings.

“The kids are buying into that, knowing being strong and physical is our primary key to success.”

According to Resendez, though a changing of the guard is in motion, football players are continuing their respective weight lifting regimens in anticipation of spring ball and the 2020 gridiron season.

“Our weight room situation is as strong as it has ever been,” the East Gaston athletic director said. “We’re in a good situation right now.”

The new East Gaston coach is also inheriting a team chock full of promise, this after a bevy of young contributors saw time at the varsity level and the junior varsity team finished second in Southwestern 2A.

“I’m hoping that whoever we hire can come in and continue what (Lippard) helped get started,” Resendez said.