I couldn’t ask for a better job and a better place to start my coaching career.
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These days, a smile hardly ever seems to leave the face of new Gallatin R-5 head football coach Mark Cole. That’s because, as he’s not shy about stating, he’s living one of his dreams.
“I’m just as excited as I can be,” Cole says. “I couldn’t ask for a better job and a better place to start my coaching career,” he added. “This place has a great tradition and I’m just happy to be in a place that loves football as much as this place does.”
Cole graduated from Maysville High School in 1996 and received his B. S. degree in physical education in May of 2002 from Missouri Western State College. Coach Cole served as defensive coordinator at Maysville High School from 1998-2000 and served as special teams coordinator at South Harrison High School last season. In addition to his duties as R-5 head football coach, he will teach physical education and weight training classes and serve as assistant varsity boys basketball coach.
Right now Coach Cole is getting his feet wet at GHS by opening the weight room three days and three evenings per week. Players are encouraged to make at least three sessions per week.
“I promise everyone we’re going to work hard, and from that people will hopefully be proud of the kids and what they’re trying to accomplish,” Coach Cole stated.
Coach Cole has indicated that he will use either a split back veer or wishbone offense. The Bulldogs will stay in a 6-2 defense led by assistant coach and defensive coordinator Doug Nichols.
“My philosophy is to keep things as simple as possible and try to win with execution,” Cole advises. “It will be important to us to live off execution,” he added.
According to Coach Cole, the Grand River Conference will be just as competitive as ever, though several teams, including Gallatin, were hit heavily by graduation.
“The Grand River Conference is such a great conference because of the balance and level of competition, year in and year out,” he stated. “It’s exciting. That’s what you live for as a coach,” he added.
Mark and his wife, the former Marylynn “Pete” Rider, also of Maysville, currently reside in Weatherby with their three-month-old son, Mallan. They plan to move to Gallatin some time this summer. Marylynn works as an activity aide at the Veterans’ Home in Cameron.