Expectations high as Browne ushers in new era with Stewarts Creek football

To say it's a new era in football at Stewarts Creek High School might be an understatement.

Not only will the Red Hawks enter the 2019 season with a new head coach, but the entire staff is new, with the exception of one varsity assistant and the freshman head coach.

Bert Browne was hired in January to replace the first coach the seventh-year school has known in Tennessee Football Coaches Association Hall-of-Famer David Martin, who retired following the 2018 season.

"I don't really care how they've done in the past or how they'll do in future years...I just know how it's going to be done while I'm here," said Browne, who most recently coached in Georgia but has previously coached in Tennessee, including a stint at Coffee County.

Stewarts Creek reached the state playoffs just once in its first six seasons. After two program-building seasons in 2013-14, the Red Hawks went 6-4 in 2015 then reached the Class 5A state playoffs during a 6-5 campaign in 2016.

After moving up to Class 6A following that season, Stewarts Creek combined to go 7-13 in Martin's final two seasons.

Browne, who retained assistant Brad Peden and freshman coach Todd Harris from last year's squad, said the Red Hawks' past won't change his expectations.

"To win every game," said Browne, on the 2019 season. "My expectation is to be 10-0 at the end of the season, and whatever happens happens. If we do things we're capable of doing and take the coaching that's there, then we're going to be OK. 

"You can lose every game or win every game. I'm looking at the schedule and we have a shot in every one of them or could get beat. We have to bring our 'A' game every time."

Stewarts Creek scored more than 20 points in nine of its 10 games last season. Of the seven losses, three were within a touchdown and the Red Hawks scored more than 30 points in two others.

The Red Hawks return several weapons from that team, including senior quarterback Jonnie Simmons, senior running backs Savion Davis and Sam Slaughter and senior defensive backs Andrew Snider and Zach Snider.

Davis, who had 625 yards and 14 touchdowns while also garnering 52 tackles as a defensive back last season, said the team has adjusted well to the new staff throughout the spring and summer.

"It took us a little minute," Davis said. "But once (Browne) got here and told us his ideas and purposes for our team, we all understood and knew we had to go and work hard for that dream and idea of his.

"We're working much harder and more together. We still worked together last year, but we've gelled as a team. Of course it's going to be different when you have a new coaching staff. Any change is different, but I believe in our coaching staff."

Stewarts Creek will be multiple on offense and run primarily a 4-3 defense under Browne. Browne said he wants to be able to run downhill, but also be able to get into four-and five-wide at times.

But formations are just a part of the new culture with the Red Hawks.

"I'm a 'Let's go' kind of guy. Being a former quarterback (at Tennessee Tech) I'm used to 'Hey let's go, let's pick up the pace,'" Browne said. "I'm a pace guy. I don't like standing around at practice.

"We've got some great kids, no question about that. It's just about bringing a different attitude. But we're picking some stuff up and going in the direction we need to. We still have a ways to go."

Stewarts Creek opens the season at home Aug. 23 against Mt. Juliet.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

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