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From Ragsdale to Williams
Passing down a Legacy
By Bryan Stafford
For 30 years the Spartan football team has been lead by Coach Steve
Ragsdale a man who is as iconic as the team mascot itself around Giles High
School. Every Friday evening on game night you can see Coach Ragsdale in
his trademark red jacket leading his team to victory. He’s always on the
sideline helping out his players and coaching them to the best of their ability.
Next year however things are going to be a bit different on Friday nights.
There will still be football, excitement, and the Spartan football team, but the
head coach position is going to be filled by someone else. Coach Ragsdale has
finally decided it’s time to hang up his jacket and pass down his coaching
legacy. Coach Jeff Williams was asked by Principal Greg Brown and Coach
Ragsdale if he would be interested in the position and he said yes. I asked
Coach Williams a few questions about this change and this is what he had to
say. He said that he was both
nervous and excited about the new
Coach Williams will be leading the
Spartan football team next year as
head coach. Photo by Bryan Stafford.
In closing Coach Williams would like
to thank Mr. Brown and the entire GHS
staff for having faith in him to be the next
head coach. He says he appreciates the
support and he’s looking forward to the
upcoming season. He says it will be sad
without Coach Ragsdale as well as Coach
Kelley and Coach Ellison who are also
retiring. Coach
Ragsdale will be
missed but I wish
the best of luck
to Coach
Williams as he
leads the
bandanna
express through
next year’s
football season.
Coach Ragsdale has been leading the Spartans to
victory for 30 years.
Photo courtesy of ghs.gilesk12.org
experience. He spoke about discomfort in new challenges that will fade over time and even
gave a piece of advice for seniors saying that, if you are nervous about what the future
holds, to not panic. I also asked about his expectations for next year’s team and how losing
so many seniors would affect the ability of the team. He told me that only 13 players are
returning from last year’s roster meaning that next year’s team will be young. He says,
“There is a lot of potential in our underclassmen and players coming up from last year’s
Junior Varsity team.” As far as expectations, he does expect the team to be successful, if
they make sacrifices such as working hard at everything, having a great attitude, and being
the best you can be.
When asked about how he feels to be the man replacing Coach Ragsdale he said, “You
can never replace or follow in the footsteps of great coach like Coach Ragsdale. It is an
honor to take over his head coaching position, but to follow in his footsteps is something
that can’t be emulated. I am honored to have coached with him, played for him, and now
taking over for him. If Coach Ragsdale ever wanted to return, I would gladly step down.” I
asked if he would continue to coach under the single-wing tradition and this is what he said,
“Giles High School, Spartan Football, and the Single-Wing Offense are synonymous with
each other.” He says that it’s part of our school culture and gives our school an identity of
its own throughout the state and parts of the country. Coach Williams said that he loves this
type of offense and next to Coach Ragsdale, it is one of the main reasons for the football
program’s success over the last 30 years. He said there would be no changes in the program
and that he just wants to build on the foundation Coach Ragsdale has established.
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