In the five weeks since David Perno was named Clarke Central’s football coach, he’s had a couple of ‘wow’ moments.
But, he admits, the full impact of going from coaching college baseball to high school football hasn’t really sunk in yet.
“You put so much into your baseball career and the next day, you’re a football coach,” Perno said. “I don’t know if it has hit me yet.”
Perno spent his coaching career in collegiate baseball, and led Georgia to three College World Series during a 12-year stint with the Bulldogs. When he was dismissed by Georgia in 2013, he looked for other coaching jobs and spent time as a broadcaster.
Then, the Clarke Central job opened up. Suddenly, he was the football coach at his alma mater.
“It’s kind of unconventional, I guess you could say,” Clarke Central athletic director Jon Ward said after the hire was announced. “... His qualities and his leadership style can be taken and put in our program and really fill the needs that we have.”
Perno got right to work. He’s been a staple at athletic events at Clarke Central through the winter, including basketball games and wrestling matches. He’s met with returning players in groups and ushered them through offseason workouts.
This is the part of coaching that doesn’t change — the relationships.
“We’re just trying to develop and train athletes to do what they’re supposed to do,” Perno said. “That part hasn’t been any different. It’s still about communicating with young people and getting the most out of them.”
He’s also been working to gather community support. His ties to the school help. Perno played football and baseball for the Gladiators before graduating in 1986. He played fullback on the 1985 state title team, and mentioned the success of those teams often at his introductory team meeting in December and a parent’s meeting a few days later.
“(The team is) excited about his vision for the program,” Ward said. “The faculty and staff, the community, the alums, all of those different groups are very positive about the hire.”
He’s trying to finalize his coaching staff, and noted that filling positions in relation to teaching positions is an added wrinkle compared to the college ranks. He’s reviewed game film from Clarke Central’s 2015 season and is trying to recruit the school’s hallways.
In a few months, Clarke Central will move out of the weight room and onto the field. They’ll start spring practice. Perno’s already planning a spring scrimmage named for former head coach Billy Henderson.
It’s then, when they’re installing the Gladiators’ offense and defense, that this might sink in for Perno.
“The process hasn’t changed that much,” Perno said. “But there are times I think to myself, ‘we’re going to run out there and play football.’”
The job’s the same — it’s just the game that’s different.