Art Anderson takes over Greenwave football

DAWSON — Art Anderson didn’t spend his first month as Terrell County High School’s new football coach dwelling on last season’s 1-9 record.

Instead, he focused on the future.

After four weeks of workouts, getting to know his players and beginning to build relationships, Anderson likes what he has seen from a Greenwave team eager for a fresh start.

“I see a lot of potential,” Anderson said. “The boys are hungry to win. They want to be successful and they are coming to practice every day to work. I am happy to be here to be able to help coach them.”

Anderson officially took over the Greenwave program June 1 after being hired by principal and athletic director Octavia Jones, a former teammate of his at Albany State University. The two played together for the Golden Rams before embarking on long careers in education and athletics, making this reunion as much about trust as it is football.

Although this is Anderson’s first opportunity to lead a high school football program, he brings more than two decades of coaching experience to Dawson.

An Albany State graduate, Anderson spent the past 14 years at Merry Acres Middle School in Albany, where he coached football, basketball and track while also assisting with the football program at Westover High School. Before moving to Albany, he spent 10 years at Cairo High School and was part of a state championship football program.

“I’ve always been a football coach,” Anderson said. “But at the middle school level you run the whole program, so you get to coach football, basketball and track and field.”

His success extended beyond football.

Last season, Anderson led Merry Acres to the school’s first conference basketball championship in several years before accepting the opportunity to lead the Greenwave.

Since arriving in Dawson, Anderson has emphasized fundamentals over complexity.

Rather than overloading players with schemes, he has spent the summer establishing expectations while evaluating talent during workouts that drew 38 players.

“I was impressed with the way they worked,” Anderson said. “If we can keep working and improving, we will be just fine. I’m trying to keep things simple right now as we learn each other because the main thing I want is them flying to the ball.”

The Greenwave will be tested immediately.

Terrell County opens the season Aug. 21 at Chattahoochee County before hosting Greenville in its home opener Aug. 28.

The Greenwave also begins play in the newly aligned Class A Region 1. Terrell County will compete in Subregion A alongside Baconton Charter, Calhoun County, Pataula Charter, Southwest Georgia STEM, Quitman County and Stewart County. Subregion B includes Baker County, Early County, Miller County, Pelham, Seminole County and Spring Creek.

“It’s a tough region,” Anderson said. “I’m familiar with some of these programs such as Randolph-Clay and Coach Charles Truitt. We coached against each other when he was at Monroe, and I’m familiar with his work ethic.”

Anderson knows turning around a football program takes more than a new coach.

It takes players willing to buy in, families willing to support them and a community willing to believe.

“I am thankful and blessed to have this opportunity to coach these young men,” Anderson said. “I’m thankful that the administration believes in me to lead this team, and I’m here to make things better for these young men. We need support from our community and our families, communicating and working together to get this ball rolling.”

The wins may not come overnight.

But after one month on the job, Anderson believes the foundation is already being laid for brighter days ahead.