Harold Jr. delivers first message to Ocilla ahead of first season as head coach
OCILLA, Ga. (WALB) - A new chapter has officially begun in Ocilla. Irwin County Football welcomes the program’s new head coach Larry Harold Jr. Players’ parents and the community had the opportunity to officially meet the new face of Indian football.
During the introduction, Harold said, “My first job was at Macon County. I’ve been at Americus, Brunswick High School, so my roots are really from South Georgia. I know the expectations. I know being in a place like Ocilla. They expect to win.”
Harold brings over a decade of coaching experience. While he is new to Ocilla, he is familiar with the talent in the Peach State saying, “One of the biggest things — I’ve been in Metro the last three years. It’s just the emphasis [in Irwin County], and it’s not just the kids, it’s the parents, it’s the uncles, the daddies, the tradition. Saying ‘hey, you know, we’re supposed to be good on Friday nights,’ and preach over to the kids to just be here a Friday night. Nothing competes. No movies, no mall, no nothing. It’s just Ocilla, Irwin County football. And I’m excited to be back a part of it.”
Previously at Central Gwinnett, Harold is best known for his time at Macon County. It’s where he coached NFL Star, Roquan Smith.
The expectations for Harold are high in Irwin County. The Indians have been one of the top programs in Class A for the better part of a decade. They have seven state finals appearances, winning two. They were 12 and two last season when they reached the quarter finals or better for the twelfth straight year.
“Well, like the great Kirby Smart says — Pressure’s a privilege. And so, I know the expectations,” said Harold. “I know they lost about a senior or two. But like I told the young guys, we have a target in our back. You know, people are thinking that we are down talent-wise. So we just have to work. We’ll go to work. We roll up our sleeves. We’re gonna love up on these young men. We’ll have a great summer and get after, come in the fall, and put out a good print, a great product for the Ocilla community.”
While football season doesn’t start for another four months, Harold’s journey starts now, and he made that clear. He also made it clear that everyone’s journey starts now, saying, “Everybody’s got to get to work.”
Harold got the crowd to chant it. At one point, he said, “It’s gonna take players, parents and the community, but Irwin County deserves another state championship.”
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