By Brighton McConnell
Brevard High School has begun preparations to rebuild its football program.
Last week, Jason Lippard, former North Stokes High School head coach, was hired to lead the varsity football team. Blue Devils are hoping he will turn the program around after the first winless season in school history last year.
Athletic Director John Hart is optimistic about what ideas and approaches Lippard will be bringing to the sidelines. “We are very excited to have Jason Lippard as our new head football coach. His excitement and passion for the game of football is clearly evident and we are looking forward to Coach Lippard bringing that here to Brevard High School and the Brevard High football program,” said Hart.
Lippard was the varsity football head coach and athletic director for North Stokes High School last year in Danbury, North Carolina. He was hired by North Stokes in 2011 to help lead their struggling football program to victory. Lippard then led North Stokes to a 9-15 record, including the first round of state playoffs for 1-A schools.
Prior to his coaching experience at North Stokes, Lippard was an offensive coordinator at South Iredell High School and helped lead their football team to an undefeated regular season in 2010.
Blue Devils hope Coach Lippard will be able to help the BHS football program and instill a winning spirit within the school. Principal Jeremy Gibbs expressed his hopes, by stating, “We are excited about having [Lippard] on board for next season not only because of his ambitious goals for the team and for recruiting players but also his desire to engage the entire community and to rekindle our Blue Devil Pride.”
Lippard held a meeting on Friday, February 1, for the returning players and potential players for next year. Discussing his plans for this offseason and next season, he stressed how important it is for football to be fun in three ways: coaching, playing, and watching. Lippard also talked to players about how they should expect changes in styles of playing and work ethics. The meeting was wrapped up by Gibbs and Hart encouraging people to recruit more players, and everyone personally meeting the new coach.
Coach Lippard starts working full time on BHS campus on February 25.