Welcome back to High school of the Dennis mcfadden who had a coach Luton High School. Uh, you were just recently at Clinton as a DC Coward Luton this off season. I think he said in January, he came here. Um, I guess, you know, uh, this is your first job as head coach. Uh, what, what made you decide to make the jump this year? And then what about Lumberton, uh, staff to, um, honestly, um, the job was open, uh I would say about four or five years back that Corey Johnson interviewed for and he didn’t get the job. So he ended up going to Clinton and I followed him. So when I did see the opening, um, I was a little skeptical because a great coach like Corey Johnson didn’t get the job. Um, you know, I shouldn’t even be in the running as well at that time, you know, but they, they called me and it was a blessing. Um, because being able to get knowledge under Richard Bailey, Corey Johnson, Brady Ackerman, all of them, all three of them together. That was my opportunity to, to claim Lumberton and I played against. Well, I played, I coached against Lumberton in the, in the past and, you know, when they walk off the bus, it’s like, wow, they are, they have some, some cats and then obviously, you know, we play them and being at programs like Scotland, um, it’s just undeniable that we, we went in Scotland. Right. But seeing, seeing them, you know, now it’s like, yeah, we, we can, well, and, you know, it’s, it’s not too far removed, I think around 2010 day, like four straight year, they’re pretty, pretty good out here. And, you know, the basketball team has been really good ever since and like, usually basketball, football, there can be a carryover there. So like there’s always been talent here just matter of putting it together, I think, um as you mentioned, all those guys, he been under uh Bailey Johnson and um what, what do you got, what have you taken from them in particular about uh how you want to run the program and, and now that you’re a head coach, how are you gonna take all that and then implement it here? It’ll be the change of culture. Um The strong culture culture is what wins games, whether you’re down by two touchdowns or up by three. The culture is what helps you win the game and finish. So it, it’s not just the football culture, I’m looking to change, it’s the community culture. Yeah, the community, the winning mentality winning the day in the school building outside the school building. That’s the culture I’m trying to change is set forth. That’s gonna be the foundation that I’m gonna be working on. And I feel as though everything will fall in line once that’s set. Yeah. I’ve always kind of believed that, uh, teams tend to, uh, um, become the personality that, that helps. Yeah. So what do you kind of want the personality of the team to be out there in the field? Oh, we learn workers. Yeah, regardless of what, what’s going on, we’re gonna work, um, first class workers going out there. Head down working, not, not here for the, the glamour, the fashion, you know, again, we’re, we’re going from Monday through Thursday, we’re on the field working for Friday. We get paid, the red is on us. Exactly. Um, uh, for Lumberton fans, I guess high school football fans in general, what can they expect it to look like? Uh, what, what kind of look like out there? It’s definitely gonna be different. Um, we’re, we’re gonna, uh, use the athletes that we have. I don’t like to come in and say, hey, this is what we’re gonna wanna do. I’m gonna make sure that the, the scheme is fit for our, our athletes defense wise and, um, offensively defense, uh, we also, uh, go in with it obviously trying to stop the offense of their favorite plays. So we’re gonna line up in some different fronts, different, uh, coverages offense wise. We’re also gonna just take what the defense gives us and I’m, I’m looking for a 3 to 4 yard attempt to play for some of the guys here in the state need to know about. I know we have a guy in the who’s got a couple of offers already. Um, some of the guys in interest to kind of, uh, here’s a chance to, uh, to the state. I know. Um I, like I stated, uh um he, he is, he is our guy. He’s got an offer right now from Saint Andrews and just recently got offered by UN C P. Um He’s looking to get other offers as well. Um He got some camp business, he’ll, that he’ll go to and hope they’ll come back with an offer. Um I will also say number three Trey Trey Moore, he’s our quarterback. Um, currently right now, um we’re competing at that spot to make sure everybody gets better. Um He’s gonna be one that probably excels to getting that spot. We have Chris Callum, he’s our captain in the back end for DB. He’s very aggressive. He’s, he’s coming down and he, he’s gonna be the one to rock your bones. Um, other guys right now, we have some young guys, uh filling in um uh Osborne. He, he’s one that is a running back style. Uh He’s a 2026 guy and we’re gonna be looking for great things in the future. We also have, uh, uh M Robinson. He’s, he’s right now as, as well competing at quarterback as well as, uh, getting some DB reps. So those are some guys that are gonna be, have some spotlights. Awesome. Um, so, uh, obviously, you know, this is gonna be, uh, a multiyear bill here. Um, but what’s kind of your, do you have a goal in mind for this first season? Maybe not in terms of just the win losses. But what do you kind of like want to, uh, I guess just achieve as a program, uh, in the first year here, first year? I, I definitely want to set a, a strong cultural foundation, like I said, it’s not about wins and losses, but I, I tell the seniors that I, I, I, I thank you and I love you because it, it’s not gonna be that championship year. It is not gonna, it may not even be that conference championship year. But, hey, I, I want to feel this room with positivity and energy for the upcoming years and I’m not looking past them. I told them that is, I’m not as if I’m looking past you. I, I know that because they’re important. Yes, they are very important to setting this. If we just need this one brick leg right perfectly and solid and they’re gonna be, they’re gonna be the ones to do it. I think, you know, talking to all of them. They don’t pretty much understand that pretty well. They, they want to, uh, leave that for, for the next three years. Um, I’ll, I’ll leave it with this. Um, you know, your first chance as a head coach, uh, I guess, you know, what’s the, well, has it set in for you yet? And then as well, uh, that first game when it comes up when you’re out there coaching as the head coach for the first time. What, what’s that gonna mean to you? Um, honestly, we, we never never know if we’re ready or not. Um, I guess you have to do it. I tell people it’s like being a parent. You never know if you’re gonna be a great parent, right? You just got, you, you got to experience it. So being, being first time, be a coach, you never know. Um, if you’re ready, you’re gonna go through some bumps through the ups and downs. Um, but I’m excited, I’m very excited again riding on the knowledge that I previously had from previous coaches. I, I still have that strong support system of great coaches. Uh, calling me texting me, um, keeping my, my spirits up on everything, telling me, hey, it’s gonna be rough, you know, keep fight through it. Um, I have previous, uh, previously some text messages from new coaches as well. Ask me my knowledge of, of what’s been going on. So the first game actually, um, it’s gonna be very exciting and obviously it’s a way game, but I’m looking forward to seeing the first home game at, in the stadium. That’s gonna be, I think, yeah, that’s gonna be, that’s gonna be the special moment, but we’re gonna win the game at a time. Um Loving to be able to, again have my first game. Um, even though it’s a way being a head coach that’s, that’s gonna be special, but actually just being in the community home saying, hey, this is us, that’s, that’s gonna be very special. I’m sure the coach appreciate the time. Uh, best luck here at Lumberton. I think. I, I kind of like the way things are sounded here. I know it’s obviously gonna be a process, but I think, uh, you guys have the right mindset, which is the most important thing. I appreciate you having me by, uh, best luck this season. I greatly appreciate you. Thank you.