2006 marked the beginning of Reid Yarbrough’s White Station career as he became a volunteer coach for the football team while attending graduate school. Flash forward 13 years later: he has come full circle as the new head coach of the team. 

With 13 years of experience working under three different head coaches as an offensive and defensive line coach, special team coach, quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator, freshman head coach and running backs and tight ends coach, he learned just how to coach the football team effectively.

“I think the thing I appreciated the most about watching [the former head coaches] and being an assistant under them is the hard work that people do behind the scenes…” Yarbrough said. “Just seeing what it takes to do the little things that not everybody wants to do.”

In most scenarios, the arrival of a new coach does not bring an easy transition. However, the transition has been relatively smooth as Yarbrough’s promotion has brought early success to the team.

“In some ways, [the transition] is easy because I’m familiar with White Station, and I’ve been here. I knew the players already; I knew all the other coaches, and so in those regards, it’s been an easy transition,” Yarbrough said. “In some ways, it’s pretty difficult because now, my working relationship with the other coaches has changed, and then also just really seeing what has to be done as a head coach. That was kind of eye-opening.” 

Often, the expectation for a new coach is to completely alter the team’s dynamic set by the previous coach to a more successful one. But with the experience Yarbrough has gained from the three previous coaches, he can use some of their concepts while instituting some of his own in setting season goals. 

“I’m trying to establish a different team culture, not completely different, but just my own identity from my own standpoint on things…” Yarbrough said. “Obviously we want to win all of our games, but if I can see improvement in individual players but also us as a team collectively, I’ll be really pleased.”

Although it is relatively early in Yarbrough’s head coaching career, he has already led the team to an early winning record and has experienced some of the magic that comes with mentoring high school football.

“My favorite moment was after the Bolton game…” Yarbough said. “I just didn’t know what it was going to be like… So after that win, I told those guys I’d remember that for the rest of my life. It was neat to get the first win and do it with them and see how much work they put in.”