Swain
- Thread starter recycled2
- Start date
They looked good Friday all things considered. They were competitive with Robbinsville early but wore down as the game went on. The players aren’t in game shape still. They were able to run the ball the field the whole first half but between bad playcalling and mistakes they couldn’t score when they got close.
They suffered a few more injuries Friday to two important players and they are both going to have season ending surgery.
And to make matters worse a few players quit Monday due to a hatred of Coach Riley. There are now a lot of people in the community calling for his termination. It’s been a real mess this week and I hope that brighter days are ahead.
They suffered a few more injuries Friday to two important players and they are both going to have season ending surgery.
And to make matters worse a few players quit Monday due to a hatred of Coach Riley. There are now a lot of people in the community calling for his termination. It’s been a real mess this week and I hope that brighter days are ahead.
Dang. I hate to hear it. But sometimes change is needed. The JV squad was very solid. Hopefully all those kids stick with it, embrace the off season and help right the ship.
Isn't this the coach from Clevland? He did a tremendous job there! Sometimes this stuff takes time. This may sound crazy, but there was a time when people in Tarboro wanted Craddock gone. The year before he started his incredible run, folks were writing letters to the paper calling for him to be fired. Thank the Lord that didn't happen. In swains case, I hope it works out here too.
Coach Riley joins the Maroon Devils after a highly successful tenure at Cleveland High School in Clayton, NC, where he served as Head Coach since 2014. During his time there, he led his program to an incredible overall record of 130 wins and only 27 losses. His teams have been dominant, securing 11 conference championships and achieving a 61-game regular-season win streak—the 4th longest in North Carolina history. He also led Cleveland to a 3AA State Runner-Up finish in 2020.
Why would parents want to get rid of a HC with these credentials? Why would he leave that to go to 2A Swain? Just curious.
Riley's wife has family in WNC, and he thought that with the history of the Swain it was a program he wanted to try to turn back around.
The records and credentials seem to be a lot of the problem. He's got a huge ego apparently. He is unwilling to listen to his staffs suggestions. He has also been very belittling to the kids (cussing, name calling etc). It’s rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. He hasn’t went out of his way to get to know the kids either.
It’s sad when a kid who loves football more than anything says he’s hates it because of him.
As far as why he made the move it was cause of his wife family in the area.
It’s sad when a kid who loves football more than anything says he’s hates it because of him.
As far as why he made the move it was cause of his wife family in the area.
Difference in a big program and a small school for sure. I have seen that happen also. A guy with big credentials struggles to get it going. Ego is part of the coaching industry, but you have to listen to your guys. However, the ones making the suggestions are not the ones people want to fire or are the ones listed in the paper about winning and losing. I hope Swain turns it on and gets back to what they were. Sounds like they are young so winning may take sometime.
At this point from everyone is saying he won’t get the opportunity to right the ship. There has even some suggestion that they might fire before the end of the season.
Well that makes 2 coaches in a row that didn’t make it long. Could there be some problems within the good old boy system?
That could very well be a big part of the problem. I think that would take a very special individual to succeed at Swain as a coach.
Doesn't sound like Swain is going to give this guy time to build his program, which is unfortunate because I believe with time, he could make them a serious contender again.
I am pro Riley in this situation, I have been very critical of Holt these past 4 years and I wasn't wrong in being so. The transition from Holt to Riley is difficult but Swain has got to let the coach mold the program in his vision, it's literally the whole point of bringing them in and you can't erase 4 years of Holt overnight. This team has talent and is the same bunch that was excellent in JVs for years. Success in JVs doesn't always translate to varsity but these growing pains shouldn't be the end of their story.
Low numbers, past injuries that led to forfeits, current/new injuries that are affecting key players, change in coaching...there's a lot of factors. I'm with Usdi - give it some time, it won't turn overnight. It will take learning and adjustments from the players, the community, and the coaches. I'm confident we can come out stronger from the growing pains.
If the administration supports him, he'll win a state championship there.
Culture of the community is huge to the success of a new HC in a small school. In a big school it is not the focus of the fall, other sports play, but only one matters in a place like Swain. I don't know him but I've coached against him and in both areas. Rural NC is different. Especially Swain. They deserve and expect to win with discipline now. If you're not from there it takes time to get support for your process/vision. Mountain Football as a former Coach used to say. Good luck to him and Swain.
