It’s official. Benji Harrison is Habersham Central High School’s new head football coach. The board of education unanimously voted on Monday to hire Harrison to fill the vacancy left when Michael Pollock resigned in November.
HCHS Athletic Director Geep Cunningham says more than 90 people applied for the position and just over a dozen were interviewed before the search committee settled on Harrison. Cunningham says he couldn’t be more thrilled with the choice. “We turned over every stone there was in looking and I think we’ve got a great young man, a great family guy, impeccable moral standards, along with a very good football coach.” Cunningham should know, he’s watched Harrision mature as a player and coach through the years. Benji Harrison was quarterback at Stephens County High School when Cunningham coached basketball there in the mid-1990s.
Cunningham describes the Raiders’ new head coach as “solid, very responsible, Christian, morally strong, (a) hard worker (with) great ethics.” He says, “I think he’ll make our community proud. I think he’ll make our school proud. I just think it’s wonderful. I’m touched. I really am.”
Harrison resigned from his head coaching job at Jackson County Comprehensive High School in Jefferson two weeks ago in anticipation of the move. He was with the Panthers for three years and in that short time span helped turn the program around.
Harrison compiled a 12-20 record over three seasons with the Panthers. He led Jackson County to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2012-2013, the first consecutive playoff bids for the Panthers since 1986-1987.
Habersham County School Superintendent Matthew Cooper says Harrison’s experience and success as a head coach and offensive coordinator, as well as his character, make him a good fit for Habersham County. “Perhaps most importantly, he’s a good person and I believe he’ll bring the confidence that we need right now to our program and, I believe, the character that we need right now in our football program.”
Cooper says he was struck by Harrision’s attitude when he interviewed with him. “He wants to make immediate progress. He didn’t come in here talking about what we can do two years from now, three years from now, he talked about what we can do right now.”
Board members commended Cunningham and the rest of the search committe for the long hours and hard work they put into finding a new head coach. Board chairman Robert Barron says, “I’m excited for what we’re looking to get into with his program, his style. There’s going to be some great things coming. I think it’s going to be a benefit for football but it’s going to overlap to every program.” Fellow board member Patsy Taylor echoes that sentiment. “I am very excited to welcome coach Harrison to Habersham Central High School. I think he’ll be an asset to the community. I think he’s very enthusiastic, passionate, wants to create a team atmosphere. I’m looking forward to exciting events happening under his leadership.”
While expectations for Harrison are high, so are his expectations of his new players. “(Benji) wants the boys to work hard and take responsibility for their actions,” Cunningham says. “He’ll expect them to learn, work hard, and build a winning attitude.”
Coach Harrison has already visited Habersham Central and met most of the coaches. Cunningham says he’ll meet the rest of the coaching staff and athletes when he steps into his new job on Wednesday.
