EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – For two out of the three new coaches in Columbia County, this will be their first full season as a head coach in the GHSA.
At Evans, though — it’s a little different. Lee Hutto isn’t new to this. In fact, he’s far from it.
This is his fourth head coaching gig in the GHSA. He started off in Warren County back in 2006, then went over to Washington-Wilkes in 2009.
He stayed in Wilkes County for two seasons before heading to Thomson, his alma mater, where he was the defensive coordinator for seven seasons.
After Thomson, he went outside the CSRA, coaching defense at Veterans.
Hutto, eventually made his way back, replacing Jon Wiley at westside in 2021.
Off of Patriots Way, he led Westside to two playoff berths in the four seasons he spent there.
Change is part of the playbook at this point.
“Every change is a little bit different, because you have to start building those relationships with your staff and building relationships with your kids, building relationships with your administration and your teachers in the building. With us, we’ve had a lot of construction going on. So, that’s been a whole challenge in itself, not being able to be in the building this summer. We haven’t had our locker room and our training room and our equipment room. We’ve had to make some adjustments.”
According to MaxPreps, Evans’ roster has taken a hit — down about a dozen returning upperclassmen.
“I think we’re in a day and age to where a lot of kids don’t want to play football because of this region. You’re outside, it’s hot, you’ve got to lift, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to work. That’s just an issue across the board.”
But for the seniors standing in place, Hutto’s taken notice: Jeremy Howard, Tripp Furgeison and Bryson Crew.
“I’m really, really proud of those guys, you know, because that’s hard. You get to your last year and you’ve got to change your head coaching position. Your position coach may change. Your coordinators may change. But those guys that have bought in and have accepted the challenge and the standard.”
Hutto kept his coordinators, and added four new assistants. This is his 10th season as a head coach, in seven out of the last 9, Hutto made the playoffs.
That kind of track record is exactly what Evans is hoping for — after missing the postseason last year and barely making it the two before.
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