The Selma Times-Journal

A football coach’s work is never done, especially one that heads one of the most successful programs in the AISA.

Robert Gartman has dedicated his summer to rebuilding Morgan Academy back to a force on the field.

Within that process, his defensive coordinator and son, John, left the team to take the same position with Macon East.

This week, the Senators added Brian King to the staff to coach linemen and head the junior varsity team. Robert Andress, an incumbent with the Senators, has also been named assistant coach.

King played four years at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., the latter part of his career under Mike DuBose. King is a 2002 graduate of Morgan and joins the staff after volunteering as an assistant last season.

“He’s a fine person; he’s extremely knowledgeable with the defensive side of the ball,” Robert Gartman said. “He’s got new ideas as far as passing defense that he’s picked up from coach DuBose. He’s been away from Morgan long enough where people don’t know him as Brian. That would have made it more difficult for him.”

As far as the head coach is concerned, an improvement after a 4-6 season is more realistic than optimistic.

That outlook may be product of a back-to-basics approach and the enthusiasm that only a new class of athletes can bring.

“We’re going to be real young, but we’re going to be a lot better than people think we are,” Gartman said. “The kids are playing with a lot of oneness. They’re playing with one heartbeat. We’re not that far from what we did back in the good old days. The kids seem to be enjoying it and being around each other.

“I look for good things to happen this year.”