In episode No. 2 on the Joy of Leadership Podcast, Dr. James Taylor sits down with first-year Hebron football head coach Jonathan Gess. Prior to making the move to HCA, Gess won six GHSA State Championships at Eagles Landing Christian Academy and became the first head coach in the state of Georgia to win five consecutive state championships.
In this episode, Gess outlines his hallmarks for a successful program, looks back on his playing career and journey into coaching, and the role of sports and family in today’s culture. Before he led Hebron to a 5-0 record and the best start in school history, Gess shared his vision for HCA and what he thought the team could accomplish during his inaugural season at Hebron.
Ep. 2 Breakdown
• (0:00) Intro
• (0:46) Expectations coming to Hebron
• (3:30) The hallmarks of a great program
• (6:05) Quality over quantity - Advice from Chip Kelly and Gus Malzahn
• (10:39) Building a staff through belief and relationships
• (13:16) Playing background at The Citadel
• (17:05) The long journey into coaching
• (22:55) The process to six GHSA State Championships at ELCA
• (27:38) The role of sports in family
• (30:58) Previewing the 2022 season and HCA’s jump to Region 8-AAA
• (41:35) Creating a brotherhood at Hebron
