Three Minutes With Howard High Football Coach Barney Hester | HS Sports

Barney Hester officially took over as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Howard High School earlier this month.

Coach Hester comes from Tattnall Square Academy, where he has led players to 11 state football championship titles since 1982. While at Tattnall, he served in such positions as Headmaster, Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, and Head Track Coach. As Head Track Coach, he also led the track team to at least five state championship victories.

Prior to his work at Tattnall, Coach Hester worked at Josey Academy and Gordon Ivey High School before joining the coaching staff at Georgia Southern University when the university first began its college program.

He is originally from Dublin, where he grew up playing football for East Laurens High School.

QUESTION: What made you decide to join the Bibb County School District?

Coach Hester: I actually considered it several years ago when Howard opened, and when the job became available this time around it was time for me to make a change. I was at my last school 31 years but now it’s time for me to do something else. I really believe we can make a difference in the lives of young people.

QUESTION: You’ve been involved in 11 state championships. Howard has lost most of their games in the last two years. How do you plan to turn it around?

Coach Hester: Lots of hard work! But you can’t expect to win a state championship the first year. Our goal right now is to have great practices. We want to make sure our guys are ready to compete on Friday nights.

QUESTION: What are your impressions of the players so far?

Coach Hester: I’m very pleased with what I see. The guys are hard workers. We’ve been in the weight room the last month and I’m very impressed with their work ethic.

QUESTION: How much of winning is psychological?

Coach Hester: I think you go about winning the littler battles first. If you can teach the winning habits, the winning comes a lot easier on Friday nights. But the good thing about football is it doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past, it’s what are you going to do today.

To hear more of the interview with Howard High School's new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Barney Hester, click here.