(This is the second in a series of stories highlighting Richmond County’s high school football teams, sharing comments from the county’s media day on Aug. 3)
Harry Desile had one goal last season – finish.
With barely enough players to field a team, Glenn Hills High School’s head football coach watched his young squad struggle on the gridiron during the season.
“Our JV was our varsity,” he said.
The Spartans finished 0-10 and had some dismal final scores, losing to Thomson 66-0 and Laney 52-0.
Halfway through the Oct. 24, 2025 Laney game, Desile only had about a dozen players suited up and playing.
“We could’ve said ‘let’s call the game.’ At halftime I said ,‘what do you want to do?’” he said.
They wanted to finish, and even though they lost the game, they didn’t walk off the field.
But this season, there’s a shift, an excitement from players, coaches and their community.
Social media posts are hyping up the team, and during the off-season, more players started showing up consistently. And that’s where you win games, said Desile.
“We’re capable of doing things nobody thought we could,” said Amir Gregory, quarterback, as he looks ahead to the season.
Part of the reason there were so few participants last year were the rumors that swirled about the future of the school itself. People thought the school would close so why bother?
“No, we’re not shutting down, but we’re improving our activities,” Desile said.
Even though the season was tough, Desile has stressed with his players the importance of having fun with the game itself. A lot of time the coaches are on the field taking part in the exercises with their players.
“And the next day we’re limping around,” he said.
The sore muscles are a small price to pay because the coaches aren’t just running drills with their players, they are building relationships with them.
“I think they like me; they like the coaching staff because like I tell them, I don’t care how much you love football if you don’t love your coach, if you don’t love your coaching staff, you don’t love your community, you’re not going to play and finish that season. So I feel like me and the coaches have been doing a great job communicating with the kids,” he said.
Not only are the coaches investing in the players on the field, but they are championing their efforts in the classroom, pushing them to keep up their grades. Student-athletes take the ACT and SAT their junior year; they are also encouraged to take the ASVAB. Coaches also encourage students to get tutoring where needed. Glenn Hills’ teachers are willing to give them extra help, he said.
Desile loves football, but it was a tool to help him get his education. Not only does he have a bachelor’s degree, but he’s also earned a master’s degree and is working on his doctorate.
“I practice what I preach,” he said.
With the balance of academics and athletics established, players are looking forward to taking the field Aug. 21 against Butler. This might not be the year the Spartans win their first-ever state title, but players plan to make a mark.
“I’m ready for people to see how hard we have worked this season,” said Jayden Buckman, senior tackle.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
