DUBLIN — West Bladen High School introduced its new football coach to members of the team Tuesday afternoon.
Jon Sherman was approved by the board for the Bladen County Schools one night earlier. His selection had been made over the past couple of months following the resignation of Kris Williams, who was 5-17 over two seasons including 3-15 in the Three Rivers Conference.
“I can’t remember a time I’ve been more excited about a coach coming on board,” said Principal Peggy Hester in an afternoon introductory news conference.
Sherman has been the head coach at Purnell Swett since 2015. He took the Rams to the 4-A state playoffs in 2017 and compiled a four-year record of 13-32. Sherman has also been a head coach at East Chapel Hill High, going 3-8 in 2013.
He met his Swett team Tuesday morning just after 9 to inform them of his decision.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “I was building something that was going to be really good. But I had an opportunity to come here. I liked the community, it’s not too far away. Something told me to take this opportunity.”
He said he was influenced by several people in pursuit of the position, including former Clinton head coach and state high school association Hall of Famer Bob Lewis. His interview was with Hester; Dr. Robert Heavenridge, who oversees athletics for the county schools; Travis Pait, the school’s athletics director and boys basketball coach; and “some coaches and community members,” according to Hester.
“He said that’s a great place,” Sherman said of Lewis’ recommendation. “When I had a chance to interview, I thought it was something I liked. Ms. Hester had passion. Coach Pait had passion. I saw people that were interested. I see passion in the community that they want to be successful. We’re going to show what this program can be.”
The school opened in 2001 and has had at least seven head coaches prior to Sherman’s appointment. Only one in the last decade, Russell Dove, went three years, and he’s now moved on to league rival South Columbus.
It was Dove who coached West Bladen to a 6-5 mark in 2014, the only winning season since back-to-back winning seasons in 2007-08. Since an appearance in 2007, the Knights have only made the playoffs in 2013 and 2015.
“My first was East Chapel Hill,” Sherman said of preparations from previous head coaching stints. “That was different, it threw me into it, and I had to learn on the go. I had to learn from my mistakes.
“Swett has put me in the fire. It’s taught me things that do work, and things that might not work.”
At Swett, he’s had the luxury of 50 to 60 players each for varsity and junior varsity. He says he’s ready for the smaller numbers more common to 2-A football.
His staff selection will be done after conversations with current coaches. He said his approach is for all coaches to work together in junior varsity and varsity.
Influences to his coaching philosophies have come from his former coach at Methodist, the late Jim Sypult, Scotland County head coach Richard Bailey while they were at Jack Britt High, and Lewis at 2-A Clinton. He said he would deploy offensive and defensive schemes to take advantage of personnel available, but given a free choice otherwise he likes a 4-3 defense and a multiple spread on offense using a tight end.
Sherman said his program would have offseason responsibilities.
“I always have a workout program, and slight practice program,” Sherman said. “There’s a calendar. I’ve got to get used to the players, see how their schedules fit. I’m hoping by 10 days to three weeks from now to have a schedule set.”
Asked how the community can help, he said, “Just support, being engaged with the kids, doing what they can for the kids. It’s my job to do everything else. Being at the games, supporting the kids — they’re sacrifice is great. They give a lot of time.”
John Sherman (left) is introduced as the new head football coach at West Bladen High School by Principal Peggy Hester.