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Posted: 7:59 PM Mar 8, 2010
Reach named Eagles’ football coach
Kevin Reach was promoted from the high school’s offensive coordinator and strength coach position, becoming the program’s third head coach since coach Alan Fahring retired following the 2001 season.
Reporter: By Will HammockEmail Address: will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com |
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21 Comments 
Collins Hill’s administration followed tradition Monday with the announcement of its new head football coach.
Kevin Reach was promoted from the high school’s offensive coordinator and strength coach position, becoming the program’s third head coach since coach Alan Fahring retired following the 2001 season. While some schools choose to hire from elsewhere, the Eagles’ past three head coaches — Larry Sherrill, Billy Wells and Reach — have been hired from within the program.
THE REACH FILE
Name: Kevin Reach
New position: Head football coach at Collins Hill
Former position: Offensive coordinator/strength coach at Collins Hill
Age: 43
Career record: First head coaching job
Education: Graduated from Clarkston High School in 1985; has a business degree from Chowan University (N.C.), a physical education degree from Georgia and a recreation degree from Georgia State
Background: Has been an assistant at Collins Hill for two seasons, helping team to two straight playoff berths; coordinator of an offense that averaged 380.5 yards last season; his 22 years of coaching includes a 10-year stint as offensive coordinator and strength coach at Loganville under Tommy Stringer; also has coached at Clarkston (six seasons), Newton (three) and Putnam County (one); played four seasons of college football at Chowan, where he was a quarterback
Family: Wife Amy; daughter Brooke, 5; second child due in April
The latest is Reach, a veteran of 22 years coaching who will be a first-time head coach. He replaces Wells, the head coach and athletic director at Lanier, Gwinnett’s newest high school slated to open in August.
“(I wanted to be a head coach) at the right place and only two places in my career was I interested in it,” said Reach, who has been at Collins Hill the past two seasons. “This is the job I always wanted, at a big-time program playing on the big stage. This region’s one of the best in Georgia football.”
Reach, 43, is an Atlanta native who played his high school football at Clarkston. He got his high school coaching start at his alma mater, then worked for 10 seasons as offensive coordinator and strength coach at Loganville under longtime coach Tommy Stringer.
He briefly coached at Newton and Putnam County, serving as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach both places, before being hired by Wells when he took over at Collins Hill.
Reach has a few hires to make, needing to replace two coaches who joined Wells at Lanier. He plans to keep veteran defensive coordinator Larry Massey, but must replace himself as offensive coordinator and strength coach.
He also inherits a schedule that features non-region games with Roswell, Brookwood and M.L. King and a typically tough 7-AAAAA slate, but he’s excited about the challenge.
“The kids work hard here, they’re expected to work hard and they’re kind of overachievers,” Reach said. “They want to work hard and do well. They’re driven and I like that. ... Also they’ve had a lot of success here at Collins Hill the last two years making the state playoffs. And we’ve got a great senior group coming back that’s willing to work.
“I think we’ve got a great administration here, too. They do a great job. Our sports programs here are second to none.”
Latest Comments
It is public knowledge, presented at the last Touchdown Club meeting...Coach Reach is bringing in four coaches from outside our region. All CH football fans are invited to attend the TD Club meetings and support the boys and their coaches. Get involved...be part of a great club. We need YOU! collinshillfootball.com
Hey Truth,I want you to name one player on the Collins Hill High School football team that didn't start and should have.I also want to let you know that we havent played North Gwinnett in the past two years.So you have no intention on saying we cant beat them.I can honestly assure all of you that there is not any "daddy-ball" going on.Coach Reach is the coach we needed.And he is going to do a great job.Forgetting to mention that we,the football team,were ranked 1st in total yardage for offense in the county and in school history.Coach REACH led us to accomplish that goal.Our TD Club President isn't trying to "buy his son playing time".He is trying to help develop this program to one of the most superior football programs in Gwinnett County.He is helping all the players a chance of having top notch equipment,facilities,and opportunities in which many other athletes around the state cant be a part of. We,as players,know Coach Reach will show that he is the right choice for this hire.
Let's be real. CH hires from within because the AD is lazy and the Principal doesn't give a flip about sports. The playoff appearances the last two years are a product of a very easy schedule, which is much tougher this year. The talent pool is getting thinner, especially after this year. Reach is a better coach than Wells, but he has his work cut out for him. He has a good returning QB, but no RB, only one good receiver and a small line. There are two kinds of CH parents: Kool Aid drinkers and Know-it-all malcontents. You need to look no further than some of the posts on this site. Both are equally annoying. Both are responsible for the lack of true success in the program. Virtually every other sport at CH has reached the elite level. The football program lacks the selfless commitment excellence required from the parents, coaches and administration. Good luck with that one Coach Reach.
