HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Two long-serving coaches reflect on football tradition BY JOHN RUCH
C-PRIDE An independent Catholic school near Chastain Park, serving students age 6 months-12th grade. www.holyspiritprep.org 678.761.7992
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AUG. 21 – SEPT. 3, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net
johnruch@reporternewspapers.net
Brookhaven’s Marist School and and became head coach in 1985. In Buckhead’s Westminster Schools boast 2012, he became one of the state’s few two of the metro area’s longest-servhigh school coaches to break the 300ing head football coaches. Alan Chadwin mark. He has coached Marist to wick, in his 30th two state championyear at Marist, ships and his teams and Gerry Romhave won more berg, Westminthan eight of every ster’s coach for 23 10 games they’ve years, share more played. than longevity. Romberg came Both coaches to Westminster after have piled up imcoaching stints at pressive records public and private and regularly keep high schools, intheir teams in the cluding Dunwoody state championHigh and Washship hunt despite ington, D.C.’s Maworking at priret School, as well vate schools with as at the college levstrong academel at the Citadel ic programs. Both and the U.S. Coast coaches have an Guard Academy. In old-school com2009, he became mitment to highWestminster’s most school ball. winning coach. A “Over the years, Then there’s the championship reI’ve enjoyed the direct connection: mains elusive, but Romberg played Romberg keeps his opportunity to develop for Chadwick years teams consistent[and help] young boys ago during one year ly in the running, mature into adults we of middle school at including 18 trips can be proud of.” Marist. “He doesn’t to the playoffs— advertise that very including last seamuch,” Chadwick son’s 12-2 team— – GERRY ROMBERG, said with a laugh. and two to the state WESTMINSTER VARSITY “He is an excellent semifinals. FOOTBALL HEAD COACH football coach. He Both men said knows the game they thrive on the extremely well,” challenge of keepChadwick quicking their teams ly added. competitive and have a love for the Romberg said he’s proud he had a high-school game. chance to play for Chadwick—and “I just enjoy this age group,” Romhopes their schools will soon be schedberg said, praising Westminster’s harduled to play against each other, as they working students. “Over the years, were in the 1990s. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to devel“You talk about consistency and op [and help] young boys mature into continuity, he’s the model of that,” adults we can be proud of. Sometimes Romberg said of Chadwick. “He’s the I feel like football is just a vehicle to most competitive guy I’ve ever met in help these young men progress into my life.” successful adults.” These days, Romberg said, few Chadwick says the power of his coaches stay put support staff and as long as he and Marist’s traditions Chadwick have. “A are part of what Find local high school lot of coaches are has kept him at the football schedules at going to bounce school for three dearound and chase cades. ReporterNewspapers.net. state champion“It’s the people ships,” he said, and and just the overthere is more NFLall environment at style pressure for schools to fire coachMarist,” he said. “It’s such a uniquees who don’t win quickly. ly wonderful place to work and to Chadwick was a star player at Deplay. ... Five of my varsity staff memcatur High and a record-setting quarbers played here [and] came back to terback at East Tennessee State. He coach.” was drafted by the Chicago Bears but Marist is famed for still using the ended up not making an NFL roster. running-game-based wishbone ofHe started coaching at Marist in 1976 fense. “We’ve been running it for 40-