Photo by Julie Alpaugh.
By KEVIN MOBLEY – Print Editor-in-Chief
Clarke Central alumnus and former University of Georgia head baseball coach David Perno will continue his career in Athens as the new CCHS head football coach.
The ODYSSEY Newsmagazine has confirmed that the Clarke Central athletic department has selected David Perno as the new head football coach at CCHS.
Perno was introduced as the new head coach in a team meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday morning.
“I had the opportunity to play here and it changed my life,” Perno told the team.
Perno becomes the eighth head football coach in the Clarke Central football program’s 45-year history following former head coach Ahren Self’s resignation on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
“David (Perno)’s strengths meet the needs of our program,” CCHS Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward said. “He has great vision, he’s a person of passion and he runs his programs with accountability and discipline.”
Perno, a CCHS Class of 1986 graduate, served as the head coach of the University of Georgia baseball team from 2002-2013, totaling 21 seasons as a college baseball coach, but does not present any football coaching experience.
Perno while he was the University of Georgia head baseball coach. Photo courtesy of the UGA Sports Information Department.
“I think being a little naive will be a good thing,” Perno said. “We need an edge. The last couple years, the last three years isn’t quite what Clarke Central’s wanted.”
Perno led the Bulldogs to a 399-334 overall record, including three trips to the NCAA College World Series in 2004, 2006 and 2008. The team finished runners up to Fresno State University in the 2008 championship series.
The Athens native also spent four years as a member of the UGA baseball team from 1988-91, serving as the starting second baseman on the Bulldogs’ 1990 National Championship team, the only national title in program history.
Before arriving at UGA, Perno was a varsity football and baseball letterman at Clarke Central, even earning all-state honors as a senior running back on the undefeated 1985 State Championship team, one of three during legendary head coach Billy Henderson’s 23 seasons at CCHS.
“You never lose tradition and pride,” Perno said. “That was established years ago and when you have that, that’s huge.”
Perno’s daughter, Saidee, is a sophomore at CCHS and a member of the varsity girls basketball team and the girls soccer program.
Since his departure from UGA in 2013, Perno has also served as a college baseball analyst for the SEC Network.
