theunderstudy

11 hours ago, QuickStrike said:

CJP is a better fit for DCA than either.
Roc Batten doesnt win state anywhere as head coach.   And would he a terrible fit for DCA.    
 

CJP will be a lifer when gets kids in and wins.  Most important thing to do is build roster immediately inside the school and he has already reached out to right people to help get other kids to play.  
 

U need to get back to grundling Vic Grider down there in South Pittsburg.   Or go be Gary Rankin’s ipad man on Friday Nights!
 

I hope you are right. Two good coaches mentioned right there at the end of that comment. Wish Vic was still at South Pitt. SE TN has a slew of good football coaches right now and a ton of good teams to watch. As far as Rankin, Boyd is starting to roll at that level of DII in that part of the state. Adding Fant to the community will only help. Silverdale is much improved. Reynolds at CCS is a good coach. Baylor and Mccallie, well are Baylor and Mccallie. Interested to see how ND will look with a familiar face to the landscape returning to state.

On 1/21/2024 at 8:44 AM, FBfan26 said:

What I’ve actually been seeing lately for the past few years is the private school coaches building relationships with certain middle school teachers. The middle school teacher ends up, taking the two or 3 kids on a tour then try to push them there.

As someone who now works at a DII institution in administration, but once upon a time was a teacher and coached middle school football in an MNPS school that was competing for the city every year, this is how it works.  

1 minute ago, LetMeSpin said:

Sounds like DCA wanted someone that might stick around 10+ years. I think most people knew PW was just waiting for a bigger job and maybe they thought some of these other options may have been using the job as a stepping stone

I don't disagree with that assessment. They want a guy who is going to be around for the foreseeable future. CPW was going to be a guy that every single year had the chance to jump ship for a bigger job.  How long is the leash for CJP? How many years does he get if this thing goes South? 

50 minutes ago, Playerscoach said:

The administration obviously thought he was better than the last guy at Ensworth. Does that make you mad? 

It doesn’t make me mad. Just makes me question the process and what the criteria they were looking for was. 
 

It sounds like they keyed in on wanting a DCA guy who knew the community. So, we shall see how that plays out. If that is what they were looking for, I would say they found it. My hope is JP does well and I look like an ### for not trusting admin to do their thing. 
 

But I will say, passing on guys who are perhaps more qualified and have had some success at other similar (and honestly better) programs for an unknown is a huge gamble. If JP fails here, the job gets a lot less attractive. 

59 minutes ago, fb247 said:

Criticism being given to new coach about his experience. Thoughts about Lipscomb coach and his experience. Also Ensworth coach. Never been head coach and in programs higher up than DCA.

Are we really comparing an ex NFL QB and a DI football player/ DI football coach to JP? This is incredible. 

Let me think, Which one do I want?

Resume 1: 7-24 as high school head coach, 60-9 middle school coach

Resume 2:  DI QB at Boston College, stuck around the NFLfor half a decade, sports analyst. He also has been a part of the Ensworth football and linked to Bowers the last 4 seasons. 

Resume 3: Prior experience at Lipscomb as a passing game coordinator and position coach. He also spent time in the public school ranks as a position coach Hillsboro. If that wasn't enough, he then worked on the staff of DI football program. Multi-year started at 2 sports at an SEC school.

 It's also funny that you mention Ensworth when DCA could have had the guy who just left there after 5 seasons and a 32-22 record.  If you think JP is a better hire than Jamie Graham or Tim Hasselbeck, you are on crack. 

9 minutes ago, Playerscoach said:

The proof of the committee is the process of who made the final five, the final two, and the hire itself. Lots of input was provided by people outside the administration, in the coaching community, and committee which ultimately led to the hire. 
 

I can assure you nobody at DCA gives a rip about when CA/GCA/CA/TCA/MTCA etc… has a new coaching search. DCA will be fine and the trolls, there are some ITT, don’t really matter. 

I just know we passed on a guy that was a combined 96-53 in 13 years at two larger and respectable DII schools as a head coach. Instead, we went with a guy who thus far is a failed head coach at the high school level.  And instead of him going somewhere to change that narrative after his failures, he hid in middle school ranks in Rutherford Co. 

I guess his plan worked. He got the job he wanted. Has his time at the middle school level prepared him for this gig? Time shall tell.  I do believe that if the committee got this wrong and he proves to not be the guy, heads should roll. 

Why do we care about Goodpasture on the DCA thread? 

58 minutes ago, QuickStrike said:

CJP is a great hire for the future of the school and program.  He is a symbol of change.  I think the administration did a great job, and I think he will suprise a lot of people.   
 

He is young, energetic, motivated and exactly what is needed.   The naysayers will point at the record and resume, but this is much more about fit.  CJP is a fit.   This is not going to be an easy job, and will require a tremendous amount of energy and work.  

The guy had the balls to take the HC job at MJCA.   He took over ER when the admin was an absolute trainwreck, and it didnt work.  
His middle school program had been top notch since.   

It is perfectly understandable that other candidates be upset, disappointed, and hurt.  

People are going to complain no matter what, but the facts are that he was the right fit and offered the position.  
 

The biggest thing is that he will care.   
 

All the football alumni that ###### and complain that read here can listen up.  
 

Instead of bitching, complaining, texting, bashing, listen up.  Most of you that spend your years complaining about certain folks.  Instead of doing that, you should walk up in that school, tell them you are in no matter who the coach is,  enroll your kids, grab your balls and quit letting your wives dictate where your kids go to school.   Be apart of the solution.  

I’m sure that rant just convinced a lot of folks to see it your way.  I bet the admissions office will be busy tomorrow. 
 

Maybe Jay will let you give the half time speech to fire the boys up. 

You say symbol of change, exactly what change is needed? The momentum at the school is unfounded. I wouldn’t think that DG or CPW thinks the program needs a change. We need a leader that has taken programs to great heights and that has the ability to sustain the winning tradition and culture. 

Why should we be convinced CJP is capable of that if has not been able to do that other places? 
 

Any coach hired will care and put his heart into the job. You think he didn’t do that other places?! 

53 minutes ago, TonyMo said:

Correction...Largest in the entire STATE...

I am not here to argue about anything. I am not obtuse to the fact that there will be challenges...and even a learning curve, I do believe this would be true of ANY hire.  I simply commented to offer up a vote of confidence.  My opinion is based on what I have seen over the past 7 years of knowing him.  Your concerns are warranted and your option no doubt is based on...something.  When the Friday night lights turn on, we will find out what he can do.

Personally, I feel like it will be a good fit and I have no doubt he will exceed expectations.  I wish JP success and wish DCA well and hope they have a successful future!

Yes, largest in state. I appreciate your response. It definitely gives a nod of confidence hearing stories of guys who have worked with him in the past. 

My concerns and opinion are based off nothing more than a non-biased eye test and resume test. That's it. I want DCA to win games. Period. If JP proves to be the guy that can do that, awesome. 

Like vol9093 said, only time will tell. My posts have detailed my concerns of him not having the pre-requisite success or experience of other candidates at the same level or at an independent school. I don't know how critical that is and why people are upset at that? Just because I have doubts of a candidate doesn't mean I want the program to fail. It's quite the opposite. 

I"m tired of commenting on this thread, but I will close my thoughts with wishing JP the best of luck. Let's go win some more gold balls. 

9 minutes ago, Vol9093 said:

You bring up many valid points, here.  I am a Blackman guy and when I heard the news , I wanted to see what you guys thought about the hire.  I'm a little confused though,  first you said, he's not qualified because he's just a middle school coach and can't handle a job of this magnitude.  Then you said he's not qualified because he's coming from a program that is too big.  My understanding is that he's an alum and has played there and understands that at this level, kids have to play both ways. At the end of the day, I don't have a dog in this fight, but you need to know that BMS's football program is no joke.  They start conditioning in late January, have Spring practice in May and then a full Summer of workouts before the season starts.  It is ran just like a high school.  You are right though.  Blackman is loaded with talent every year.  CJP will have to get players out of the hallways to come out.  But that's where I'll think that he'll do well.  He's use to relating to young kids and getting them excited for ball.  Not sure he can get the players, but if he can, I can guarantee you that they  will be coached very well.  It is an out of the box hire that I think will pay off big!

My concerns in order are:

1. Head coach experience as a high school coach is a limited sample size with disappointing results  (7-23). The guy has never coached in a TSSAA playoff game or at a DII school.

2. Middle School coach for the last ten years. You convinced me he did a great job there. But, dude had numbers. You guys said it yourself, biggest middle school in RuCo. 

3. How will he get guys when the cup does not runneth over with numbers? 

If Pierce was such a sure thing at Blackman and a staple of the middle school development, etc. why wasn't he hired to be on staff with Kriesky when he was hired? 

"THE largest middle s school in the state of Tennessee with over 1600 students. A football program with 70 players."

I think this statement is meant to convince others, but for me it raises questions more than anything. Blackman Middle has 1600 kids in 6-8 and he got 70 of them.  DCA has maybe 200 kids in high school? 

I see the point of the post saying he has run a large program at a large Rutherford county middle school that is larger and better ran than most public high school teams in the area.

But, he does not have 1600 kids to pull from here. He has about 100 guys in the entire high school versus 800 guys in the entire middle school. How does he manage that if you are use to having 70?

I don't necessarily see him building the roster in some type of huge number adding overhaul. Not because he's incapable, but because the numbers don't really allow for that with such few kids. The academy has always had a handful of athletes who did not want to play football. And another group of high school guys that don't play sports at all.  The DCA roster will be somewhere around 30-35 kids. The point to this post is he didn't have to do that at Blackman. He had numbers, kids showed up and were coached well.  But there was not much effort to find guys because the school was so big.

I think the most telling sign of his success will be what you mention, though. Does JP  have the ability to convince guys to play that have not in the past. If he can get the numbers to around 40 instead of 30, that will be a good sign.  

1 minute ago, Playerscoach said:

On paper Dennis Goodwin made no sense. CJP has more coaching and head coaching experience than DG had.  
 

Enrollment is way up, kids want an exciting brand of ball, the indoor facility will be amazing (think BGAs but better), CJP is a good offensive coach, and this years team is loaded at the skill positions like no other time in the history of the school and I’ve seen all the players. CJP will grow the roster and excitement. Wade is a HOF coach so no matter what this hire was not going to compare “on paper” but two TN HOF coaches recommended and hired him. I trust them and will support the program like always. 
 

CJP doesn’t have to be a “wow” hire to be successful and based on who and what I know he will be there a very long time. 

Fair. I do know that DG had been on staff though. And for the record, I hope you are correct. It’s all about raising good men and state championship banners. 
 

I do believe in DG and want to trust the process. 
 

The amount of momentum that is building at the school is unparalleled for the DCA world. It would be a shame to lay an egg with all that talent. 

Playerscoach - I appreciate the response. You  are as entitled to your opinion as I am to mine. And like I mentioned before, I’ll be the first to publicly respond and apologize to this post if I’m wrong.

The reality is that DCA plays in a very winnable class of D2 football. And they could have continued success. My argument is that on paper it does not make sense. He is not a proven winner at this level. That is all. Others in the running for the job, have been better at other places. So as someone who knows the institution, and the TN state football scene very well, it raises eyebrows. So for you to sit here and anoint him as the next Dennis Goodwin or CPW prior to any evidence is strange to me. I hear what you are saying. He knows the community, went to school there, etc. I guess we shall see if that pans out.

As far as no one winning at East Robertson, they did pretty well this year. I don’t care who is there, you coach who have. 

 

3 minutes ago, VUDores2024 said:

Former Head Coach Paul Wade added that, “Coming back to DCA in 2018 as the head coach was like coming back home. Therefore, I know that feeling that Coach Pierce has, and I couldn’t be happier for him and his family. During my tenure, I was fortunate to have seven former players serve within the program. Now, to have the opportunity to watch one take the reins as head coach is not only exciting but says a lot about this community. Jay will be excellent because he is a product of this program and understands the mission statement of the school. He is a football guy and is a relationship builder. I expect him to continue on with the tradition of success that has been DCA football.” 

I get how PR works in the private school world. I am not putting word in PW’s mouth, but he realistically would have said he expects continued success regardless of the hire. 

As a former DCA student athlete and member of the program, and employee of another TN independent school, I am displeased with the news of the new hire to say the least. To hire a guy who was 7-23 in his 3 year tenure at East Robertson is absolutely wild.  People are going to rebuttal with "he's done a great job with Blackman football" etc. If the measuring stick for DCA football is now a proven Middle School football coach who won a couple of Rutherford County championships, I'll be da****.  

The drop off from Paul Wade to Jay Pierce is enormous. You are talking about a TSSAA HOF coach to a guy who got a job because he attended the school and has a bit on institutional knowledge. My question is what did Goodwin and others see to make him seem qualified? Because on paper he sure as heck is not. Is it from his time at the school 2 decades ago? Is it from having a brother on Wade's staff who likes to make tiktoks? I don't doubt Jay know's ball. But, I do seriously doubt he was a better option than guys like Roc, etc. that were wanting this job. 

I suppose it remains to be seen, I hope I'm wrong and I have to apologize in a couple years via this threat. But if I'm not, maybe Coach Pierce is a good fit to steer the middle school program in the right direction.

Not so fast my friends.... Baylor takes a close one led by their Do-it-All running back and a tough 2nd half effort from their defense. 

Anyone have a schedule of upcoming scrimmages?

On 3/15/2022 at 10:29 AM, BobbyB said:

Looking for 1989 videos of Bruceton vs DCA REGULAR SEASON GAME AND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME VIDEO. I WILL COMPENSATE.

DM ME. I have contacts at DCA that can pull the film for you.

23 minutes ago, ChuckDSanAntonio said:

Aged well.

 I laughed at this one. Aged very well... LA ready for CPA on any occasion nowadays

Yes, that was Pulaski Academy. That head Coach is Kevin Kelley, who took the Presbyterian College job but left after only one season.  

1 minute ago, plato said:

It's his 3rd school in as many years. 

True, but reunited w/ Kimrey who was his first coach at Hammond

Shiny new QB on his way to Baylor...

DCA alum who works in SE TN at the Red School now.

IMO, PW is the best coach in DII not named Dilfer or Martin. He's been legit everywhere he has been regardless of size, empty cupboard/no talent, etc. he's proven to be able to build.

Quinn another really good option. I don't love the Sneed hire honestly. I think there is a handful of guys in Nashville that would be better. 

I am not sure on either accounts, but he would have been my first call if i'm JP2.