For the love of the game: Q&A with CCHS assistant varsity football coach Damien Gary

CCHS assistant varsity football coach Damien Gary instructs his players against North Oconee High School on Aug. 5 in Billy Henderson Stadium. While Gary has become known at Clarke Central High School as a coach, his football roots lie in Athens where he played wide receiver at CCHS and the University of Georgia. “It was an honor (to play at CCHS). We had a lot of talented wide receivers that definitely came before me (and) a lot that came after me,” Gary said. “(It was) a privilege being able to be trusted with playing wide receiver.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly

Sports Staffer Kendarius Butts talks with CCHS assistant varsity football coach Damien Gary about his playing days at CCHS and UGA and the lessons he’s learned from those experiences.

Sports Staffer Kendarius Butts: How did it feel playing wide receiver at Clarke Central High School?

Assistant varsity football coach Damien Gary: It was an honor. We had a lot of talented wide receivers that definitely came before me (and) a lot that came after me. I saw it as an honor and a privilege being able to be trusted with playing wide receiver.

KB: How about playing at the University of Georgia?

DG: While at UGA, I noticed a lot of talented guys that I played with, a lot of talented guys that were there before me, as well as after. So again, it’s always been an honor and a privilege to play the game of football, period, no matter where it was for me.

KB: Why did you play at UGA?

DG: A lot of different circumstances and decisions came with it. I was always interested in Florida State (University) and I had the opportunity to go to Florida State, (but) I tore my ACL (in) my senior year, so recruiting kind of slowed down a little bit, but UGA remained loyal and faithful. So, being my hometown, it was the best decision for me at that time to go to UGA.

Damien Gary

Image 3 of 4

Clarke Central High School assistant varsity football coach Damien Gary is pictured playing football for CCHS during his days as a player from 1995 – 1999. According to Gary, being a former Gladiator has helped him understand and coach his players now. “I just try to use my own experiences,” Gary said. “I came from some of the same places that they come from, I grew up right across the street in Rocksprings. I like to try to be an example, to show them that no matter where you come from, if you’re good enough, (colleges will) find you.” Photos courtesy of Damien Gary

KB: What things did UGA teach you as a wide receiver?

DG: (It) definitely taught me a lot (about patience), taught me how to overcome (and) to deal with adversity. (In) college athletics, you’re gonna deal with some adversity at some point in your career, but it taught me how to keep going, how to press through, and a lot of patience (with) things don’t always go my way. But it taught me how to continue to just grind and get better at my craft, and good things happened for me just because I stuck through and did my best every day.

KB: You were coached by former UGA coaches Jim Donnan and Mark Richt. What were your experiences like being coached by them?

DG: They taught us a much more valuable lesson than just the game of football. A lot of things that I know, my coaching philosophies and the way that I approach my coaching is because of things I learned from the coaches.

“In general, we’ve been pretty successful since I’ve been back (2019). It’s been another honor and privilege to be able to be trusted with that position to give back to receivers that are coming up, through the ranks these days, and be able to just share a little bit of the knowledge that I gained, from planning and coaching.”

— Damien Gary,
assistant varsity football coach

KB: How were former CCHS football coaches Billy Henderson and Steve Brooks and what were your relationships with them?

DG: I still talk to Coach Brooks from time to time, even today. Coach Henderson, he actually coached my dad, too, so he kind of knew me from elementary and middle school, but it was a great relationship. One thing about both of those guys, they were real big on relationships and knowing the person, not (just) what you could do on the field.

KB: You are currently an assistant varsity football at CCHS. How has that been so far?

DG: It’s been good. I’ve had a chance to coach my son, who graduated in 2020, (as well as) coach a lot of talented receivers and players. In general, we’ve been pretty successful since I’ve been back (2019). It’s been another honor and privilege to be able to be trusted with that position to give back to receivers that are coming up, through the ranks these days, and be able to just share a little bit of the knowledge that I gained, from planning and coaching.

KB: The information and tools you received when you were playing at UGA and CCHS, do you use that to coach your players?

DG: Well, I just try to use my own experiences. I came from some of the same places that they come from, I grew up right across the street in Rocksprings. I like to try to be an example, to show them that no matter where you come from, if you’re good enough, (colleges will) find you. If you do the right thing, good things will happen.

KB: As a varsity football coach, what is your relationship with players?

DG: I would like to think I’m a great coach. Some of them really don’t even know that I played at UGA, which is all good. That’s not what I go around trying to speak about, I just try to get to know them and then they get to know me; not what I’ve done, but just be genuine. Again, a lot of the best coaches that I’ve (had have) been guys that created a relationship with me outside of football. I try to make sure I do the same and let them know that I care about them as a person, not just what they can do on Friday nights.

More from Kendarius Butts