John Starr Facing Uphill Challenge As Howard Coach

Veteran Leader Feels Good About Potential For Hustlin' Tiger Gridders

  • Tuesday, August 16, 2016
  • John Hunt
Howard High's new head football coach, John Starr, brings a winning attitude to the Hustlin' Tigers. The veteran coach has won a state title in the Georgia High School Association and expects that his new team can be successful, as well. Together with his positive attitude and the team's work ethic big things may happen down on South Market Street.
Howard High's new head football coach, John Starr, brings a winning attitude to the Hustlin' Tigers. The veteran coach has won a state title in the Georgia High School Association and expects that his new team can be successful, as well. Together with his positive attitude and the team's work ethic big things may happen down on South Market Street.
photo by Dennis Norwood

It probably goes without saying, but John Starr may have the toughest job of any first-year football coach in the state of Tennessee.

Starr is a 54-year-old gentleman who is the newest coach at Howard High School.

His coaching career began in Augusta before spending 23 years at Chattooga High School and the last six at Salem High School in Conyers, Ga.

He is facing the task of taking a team that didn’t win a game last year and trying to turn things around.  As has always  been the case, there are more than enough outstanding athletes at the school located down on South Market Street.

He also has so many other obstacles to overcome not to mention a tough Region with teams like Notre Dame, East Ridge, Chattanooga Christian, Red Bank and Signal Mountain.

It’s one thing to talk about being tough, but it’s another to put those words into action.

Just last Friday at the jamboree played at Finley Stadium, Starr was so upset with his team’s lack of execution on basic plays they had been practicing over and over again that he took his kids back to school for practice following an 8-6 loss to Brainerd in the opening contest.

But instead of being nervous about the challenge, this big man smiles from ear to ear as he’s been in a similar situation before and came out smelling like a rose.

He’s been in the coaching business for the past 31 years after a successful college career at West Georgia where he was part of a national championship in 1982.

He followed that with a masters degree in Health and Physical Education before earning his doctorate in Organizational Leadership.  He and his wife Jennie will celebrate their 30th anniversary on Aug. 30 and they have two grown children, including a son named John II and a daughter named Janai.

His first head coaching job came at Josey High School in Augusta, Ga. back at the start.  Those guys had only experienced three winning seasons in the previous 30 years, but Starr turned things around and won a state title his third year there.

He’s confident that he can do the same with the Hustlin’ Tigers.

“My biggest challenge right now is motivating the kids and getting them to believe in themselves,” he said a couple of weeks ago right after fall practice began.

“I’ve been here for two months and the best thing I’ve discovered so far is their work ethic.  It’s just a matter of time before we get things turned around here,” he said while sitting in his office which is located in the Henry Bowles Gymnasium.

“We have to work on being consistent, stuff like being on time and doing what we say we’ll do.  What we have to do this season is win the games we’re supposed to win and upset a few others.

“We have 16 seniors among about 35 who are out, but I like these guys.  I’m pleased with where we are at this point, but I wish we could have gotten started a little earlier.  Our linemen on both sides of the ball are as big as any I’ve ever coached and I’m really surprised at how quickly they move.

“A lot of things have to fall into place to win a championship, but we have a chance to be successful this year.  You just never know who can play until the lights come on on Friday night.

“My main goal is to get them to be the best they can be.  Football is a great tool to help prepare them for the next part in life, but stuff like following instructions and doing what is asked is really important,” he continued.

“I really didn’t know what to expect when I got here, but I’m tickled to death to have this job and to be given such a wonderful opportunity.  I can’t promise you how many wins and losses we’ll have, but we’ll be physical and we’ll play hard for four quarters, regardless of what the scoreboard says,” he continued.

While the Hustlin’ Tigers have been lifting weights and doing the usual strengthening drills like other teams, Starr also went out and bought five 10-pound hammers.  He’s also added 50-pound sand bags and those huge tractor tires for his kids to work with.

“Those hammers help with flexibility and upper body strength.  It helps build mental toughness.  And if you don’t think carrying those sand bags across the gym floor is tough, you haven’t tried it.

“We didn’t get a chance to walk the halls before school was out, so we’ll play with what we have right now, but we hope to pick up a few more when school starts.

“This team has won five games in the last five years and we’re certainly not deep at any position, but we’re going to work hard and I really feel like we can make the playoffs,” he concluded.

Howard opens its season on Friday night against Donelson Christian before an away game at David Crockett on Aug. 26.

The first region game comes on Sept. 2 when the Hustlin’ Tigers host Red Bank.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

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