After six years as the Clarke Central High School defensive coordinator, Self now sits in the office of the head football coach with the goal of leading the CCHS varsity football team to the state championship. Photo by Porter McLeod.
By TIERRA HAYES – Sports Writer
Friday nights in the fall, the stands of Billy Henderson stadium are full of hundreds of spectators. Students, teachers as well as alumni can be found cheering on the Clarke Central High School varsity football team.
For the past seven years, varsity head football coach Leroy Ryals stood on the sidelines. Ryals led his players to seven play-off seasons and a run at the state championship in 2009.
Clarke Central High School head football coach Ahren Self reviews plays during the third quarter of the CCHS vs. Central Gwinnet High School on Sept. 6. The Gladiators’ 37-12 victory was Self’s first win as varsity head football coach. Photo by Porter McLeod.
But for the 2013 season, a new coach will be found on those same sidelines.
CCHS Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward and Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker announced the hiring of Ahren Self, longtime defensive coordinator, as varsity head football coach on Feb. 15, four days after Ryals announced he would be accepting a coaching position at Thomasville High School.
Self has been a part of the CCHS family since 2008 and has gained with a wealth of experience. He feels that the passion of his players has kindled the same vigor within himself.
“I know these kids have great hearts and I just love being around them,” Self said. “They make me come to work every single day.”
But Self’s love of football did not begin at CCHS, instead it began in Princeton, W.Va. playing neighborhood football.
“When I was younger I used to like riding my bike,” Self said. “We would go to other neighborhoods and play backyard football. If it was basketball season we would play basketball in the gym or outside, if somebody had a court.”
In high school, Self expanded his athletic experiences by participating in other sports besides football and basketball.
“I played baseball all the way up until my sophomore year in high school.” Self said. “I stopped doing that and I ran track.”
After graduating from Princeton Senior High School in 1991, Self attended the Citadel Military College in Charleston, S.C. where he was a two-year starter. He played football at the Citadel until he realized his true passion.
“It wasn’t until college that I wanted to be a coach,” Self said. “I loved football with a passion, (but) I was a Business Administration major with a focus on accounting. As I was getting my education and my degree I realized I didn’t want to sit behind a desk and wear a tie every single day. I loved football.”
Self was on the coaching staff of the Citadel from 1995 to 1998. In 1999, he began coaching at Syracuse University.
“I went to Syracuse University under Paul Pasqualoni,” Self said. “I was a graduate assistant there. I worked on the defensive side and I got a chance to work with the outside linebackers, had a chance to work with all-pro linebacker Keith Bulluck.”
While at Syracuse, Self was exposed to an influential program.[pullquote]“I know these kids have great hearts and I just love being around them,” Self said. “They make me come to work every single day.”
–AHREN SELF,
CCHS varsity head football coach
[/pullquote]
“I just learned so much football,” Self said. “We did a lot of things on defense; we studied a lot. I grew as a football coach the most (while I was) there.”
In 2000, Self returned to his alma mater.
“I was hired back at the Citadel as a full time coach, coaching linebackers (until) 2003,” Self said. “In 2004, I went to Elon University where I coached the secondary and I was also the special teams coordinator.”
After more than 10 years of coaching football at the collegiate level, Self accepted his first high school coaching position. He was brought on as the CCHS football defensive coordinator by Ward and Hooker.
“I think Ahren has been an asset to Clarke Central since he came here,” Ward said. “He served successfully as our defensive coordinator for six years.”
Self began coaching at CCHS with a wealth of coaching experience under his belt, including 10 years of coaching at the collegiate level. He both played and coached at the Citadel Military College in Charleston, S.C. Photo courtesy of Ahren Self.
After six years as the defensive coordinator Self now holds the varsity head football coach position. The switch from defensive coordinator to head coach has come with an increase in responsibility for Self.
“The workload has definitely increased,” Self said. “Whereas, I used to just worry about defense, I now have to worry about offense, special teams, and not to mention defense as well. There are a lot of other things that go into it, all the administrative work that has to be done, all the paperwork as far as eligibility, making sure you have pre-game meals, ordering equipment, all of the administrative stuff. It’s definitely a lot more than I thought it was going to be.”
Self’s coaching staff feels that he has handled the additional workload well.
“He’s doing a great job,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks varsity football coach Aaron Cavin said. “He’s got a whole lot of responsibilities that he didn’t use to have, but he gets things done and he does it the right way. I think that he has a lot more excitement now because now it’s his program, and so now he can fine tune it the way he wants to.”
Administrators agree that Self will be a capable head football coach for CCHS.
“Coach Self is a very disciplined person,” Hooker said. “I think our program will accelerate under his leadership.”
Ward also believes that the change in head coach has been smooth.
“I think it’s been a very good transition,” Ward said. “I think the players have accustomed themselves to Coach Self and his new coaching staff. There are a lot of new staff members this year and the players have done a tremendous job of buying into Coach Self. I think thus far the product on the field is indicative of that. We’re fortunate to have (Self) as our head coach.”
Self is strengthening the bonds he began to build with players when he was the defensive coordinator.
“He never lets us give up on ourselves and he keeps us determined and committed to what we do every day,” varsity senior linebacker Kavon Williams said.
The change in head coaches has been a transition for the players, especially the seniors, but Williams believes the team has not been greatly affected .
“A couple of things have changed around, but it’s still the same,” Williams said. “We’re working harder now. Self has us doing different things with the community and just focusing on winning every day and practice on the football field and school.”
Self emphasizes the importance of community service to his players.
“Any time that we have an opportunity to give back to the community, we present it to our players,,” Self said. “Our guys have done a great job of that. They are willing to go out and help when they can in the community. A lot of them, every opportunity that we ask of them they volunteer their time, they’re happy to do it. It helps promote our program and promote Clarke Central.”
[pullquote]“A couple of things have changed around, but it’s still the same,” Williams said. “We’re working harder now. Self has us doing different things with the community and just focusing on winning every day and practice on the football field and school.”
–KAVON WILLIAMS,
varsity senior linebacker
[/pullquote]
Other varsity players also feel that Self is doing everything in his power to help them to succeed.
“Coach Self is a good leader, he makes sure we try our best,” Deijon Yearby, junior and varsity offensive lineman said. “He makes sure the program is still keeping us in school and that we get good grades.”
Self feels that football is beneficial to his players in that they learn more than athletic skills.
“Football teaches you so many life lessons you can’t get in other places. It teaches dedication, hard work commitment, and through the game I’m able to reach young people, whereas in other businesses or other professions you can’t do so,” Self said. “I love getting up every morning. I feel like I haven’t worked a day in my life. I get to come to school to coach and I get to be around young people and it’s like a family to me.”
During the CCHS vs. Cedar Shoals High School Classic City Championship on Aug. 26, 2012, defensive coordinator Ahren Self discussed strategies that enabled a 41-13 win over the jaguars. Photo by Porter McLeod.
Self is looking forward to the new season and to improving the team.
“Our goal is to win every game, go to the playoffs and get it back to the (state) championship,” Self said. “We go out every day and work hard. We try to improve as a team. We get better every single day. We look at the mistakes that we made last year. The attitudes. The things we could have done to improve our record. The things that we made mistakes on last year we cannot make again.”
Self said he has tried to make the transition of coaches as seamless as possible for his players.
“In my opinion, I don’t think (the team) has changed much,” Self said. “You know, I have a close relationship with the team. I love them. I want to see them do well. I think we have a great working relationship that’s going to enable us to be successful this year.”
