Chris Hatcher ready for Samford debut
Chris Hatcher is set for his debut in the fourth stop in his head coaching career, and this one is much different than the first three.
At Valdosta State, Georgia Southern and Murray State, Hatcher faced difficult rebuilding jobs. That’s not what faces at Samford.
The Bulldogs finished 7-4 last year, including 5-2 in the Southern Conference. They have seven returning starters on both sides of the ball.
Samford opens its season at 7 p.m. on Thursday against Central Arkansas.
“We’re very excited about the game. You practice all year for very few opportunities in the game of football,” Hatcher said during Tuesday’s Southern Conference coaches teleconference. “You have to make each of them count. There is some uncertainty being a first-year coach and being on the field with the guys under the lights for the first time.
“Always at the beginning of the season, everybody is optimistic. If you’re not optimistic this time of the year, you never will be.”
There is plenty of reason for Hatcher to be optimistic. The Macon native is 121-57 in 14 seasons as a head coach and took over a veteran team with the Bulldogs.
Samford is led by a strong returning group: junior running back Denzel Williams, senior offensive lineman Gunnar Bromelow, junior wide receiver Karel Hamilton, senior defensive lineman Michael Pierce, senior linebacker Justin Cooper, senior defensive back James Bradberry, senior tight end Tony Philpot and junior defensive back Jamerson Blount.
“It started kind of slow,” Hatcher said of his relationship with his new players. “I really think as we got into camp, the guys and myself, we all got on the same page, and we really had a tremendous camp. We do have a lot of guys returning. However, you have to do it your way. Our guys have practiced with a lot of energy, and we have competed extremely hard during the course of the camp.
“I don’t know how we will perform Thursday, but right now we’re practicing at a very high level.”
This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 11:08 PM with the headline "Chris Hatcher ready for Samford debut ."