The pressures and expectations of being a head football coach aren’t lost on five of Center Grove’s assistant coaches.
Brian Harbin, for instance, previously served in such a role for five seasons.
“When you’re a head coach, there are things that come across your desk most people don’t understand,” said Harbin, the Trojans’ cornerbacks coach who started his second stint as one of Eric Moore’s assistants in 2016 and is in his 14th year overall with the program. “I coach a position now, and I want to do it to the best of my ability and represent Center Grove, and more specifically, coach Moore.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“It’s always about the people you work with. Eric … he didn’t have to have a position for me, but the whole staff welcomed me back. I can’t emphasize how fortunate I am, but at the end of the day it’s about the kids.”
As Center Grove’s head football coach the past 22 seasons, Moore has been able to maintain a certain continuity among his assistant coaches.
Experience matters, and Harbin, Tom Blanck, Kevin Hutchins, Joe Siderewicz and Ryan Spoonmore are among the trusted sounding boards he can turn to should he wish to inquire about a specific player, practice drill, game situation, upcoming opponent or any other number of issues he encounters.
All five provide the added benefit of prior head coaching experience.
“If there’s any issue, you’re involved in it,” said Siderewicz, a 1982 Martinsville graduate who played receiver for his father Bill’s teams before serving under him as an assistant coach for 14 seasons and eventually succeeding him as head coach for seven more (2000-06).
“As an assistant, all of a sudden you’re in charge of one part of the team, so yes, there is a little bit of a transition. Once you’ve become a head coach and come back as an assistant, I understand the problems and the issues a head coach can have.”
Siderewicz coaches quarterbacks and receivers at Center Grove. Blanck, who was his defensive coordinator at Martinsville for a time, coaches the Trojans’ safeties, while Spoonmore helps with receivers.
Hutchins, the offensive line coach, is the only Trojans assistant to secure a state title as a head coach. In 2015, he guided Monrovia to the Class 2A crown. He was a head coach for 15 seasons overall, with stops at Indianapolis Howe and Mooresville along with two stints at Monrovia (2007-09 and 2012-18).
“It’s just different. You have a lot less worries as an assistant,” Hutchins said. “But to enjoy being an assistant, you have to agree with the philosophy of the program. I knew that having my son (Payton, a freshman lineman), in this program was the right environment.
“I’ve known Eric for a long time. He lets his coaches coach, and even though I was a head coach for a long time, there are always things you can learn. I’m getting to coach with a lot of my friends, and it’s really enjoyable.”
Spoonmore is one of two assistants, along with Brad Timmons, who has been with Moore during all six of the seasons in which Center Grove has made it to a state championship game. He started in 2000 and has been on staff every year with the exception of 2014, when he was head coach at Greencastle.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever want to be a head coach again. I enjoyed it, but being an assistant actually allows you to coach and not have to worry about all the other stuff,” Spoonmore said. “I love being an assistant. Being a head coach is being a CEO and doing all the media things you have to do.”
At 65, Blanck is the graybeard of Center Grove’s coaching staff. He joined the group in 2008 and has been a fixture helping with the defensive secondary ever since. Blanck’s head coaching days and nights were spent at Bishop Chatard, North Vermillion and Monrovia.
“As a head coach, you have the final say and the final word,” Blanck said. “The most important thing to me about being a good assistant is being loyal to your boss. “(Moore) is very particular about everything, which is good, but I know he appreciates everyone’s efforts.”
Moore was about to start his first season at Center Grove in 1999 when he made Harbin, then 22, one of his assistants. Harbin had worked his way up to defensive coordinator by the time he left to become Franklin Central’s head coach in 2008. After one season with the Flashes, Harbin returned to Johnson County to take over at Franklin.
Harbin was in charge of the Grizzly Cubs for four years. He then became the defensive coordinator at Franklin College from 2013-15 before returning to Center Grove.
“Even when I was in my head coaching positions, I still communicated with Eric,” Harbin said. “What I appreciate most about him is you’re always going to be told the truth. He doesn’t micromanage. His philosophy is, ‘I’m going to hire good people,’ and at the end of the day, he’s going to be loyal to you.”
