The Long County High School football team didn’t have to go far to find a new head coach, just down the hall.
Athletic Director Karen Swindell announced last week that offensive coordinator Eric McNair will be the head coach for the Blue Tide.
“Coach McNair is a great fit to build on our existing foundation,” Swindell said. “His leadership as the offensive coordinator, combined with his prior experience at other stops along the way, have prepared him to help us continue to move toward developing a championship-caliber program.”
McNair said that he was excited and believes the program is going in the right direction.
“My staff and I are ready to push forward to take our program to the next level,” McNair said. “I am overwhelmed by the support I have been given by the administration and the community. Long County has been my home for four years now and I feel as if I have landed my dream job here.”
He said he will change the strength and conditioning program, and that he expects intensity from the players.
“We are going to turn up the intensity on the kids to push them to be better on and off the field,” McNair said. “We look to build men who will be good husbands, fathers, and upstanding members of the community.”
He said he will still run the offense, but has appointed Paul Austin and Deshon Brock as co-offensive coordinators. He said the team will primarily use a multiple spread, but won’t abandon the wing-t.
On the other side of the ball, he said they’ll run a 5-2 50 defense and that Jeff Miller would head it.
McNair said the goal for the upcoming season is the state playoffs. He believes the goal is realistic because of the team’s talented.
“Every game is the most important game of the year, because it is the next game,” the coach said. “I believe this team is the most talented team, across the board, I have been around in my five years at Long County.”
Swindell said McNair’s character set him apart from others. She said he understands the team’s success will require getting the community involved.
“He wants Long County football to be something that the school and the community take pride in supporting. He wants to fill the stands every Friday night,” Swindell said.
The Blue Tide had a 5-15 record over the last two seasons and 2-14 in Region 2-AA. Prior to joining the Blue Tide, McNair was an assistant coach at Tattnall County and Metter. He graduated with honors from Tattnall County High School and was a 4-year letterman in football. He attended Georgia Southern University. He and his wife Ashley have two sons, Asher and Jase.