Gilmer Co., Ga- As all football fans in the area know, the Head Coaching position left vacant by former Bobcat coach Kevin Saunders has since been filled.

Paul Standard, former St. Pius Head Coach for 20 years, has been named the next Head honcho at Gilmer.

As the Director of FYN Sports, I had the chance to sit down and talk with him last Thursday.

I can say this whole heartedly: Bobcat nation is in good hands.

Here are the three things about Coach Standard that stuck out most to me.

1. The Kids Come First

I can’t count how many times on and off camera he brought up how he wanted to have a personal relationship with each one of the kids that put on a Bobcat jersey. He emphasized how he wanted to morph these guys into better men all together.

2. Family Is Important

Coach Standard is bringing along with him his son PG. PG will be the offensive coordinator and running backs coach, and has been helping his dad out for years. I could tell by the way Coach Standard spoke about his kids and his wife, that they were the most important things to him and that he would want to teach his ball players the importance of having those relationships. Winning ball games is great, but if you don’t have someone to celebrate with at the end of the night, its all for none.

3. He Knows How To Win

His record at St. Pius and his path to state championships speak for itself. I have no doubt he is the man to turn the Gilmer County football program around. He is already getting involved in the Ellijay community, and if you ask me thats where winning starts. You have to get the community to buy into what you are selling, and Coach Standard is already rolling out the blue print on how to do so.

All Bobcat fans should watch the full interview above and see what Coach had to say about why he came to Gilmer and what his thoughts were on the state of the program and his response to other questions asked by BKP and myself.