Indian Creek head coach Max Goodin, left, jokes with a player during a recent practice.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
Considering the revolving door that’s been on the Indian Creek football coach’s office since 2016, consistency isn’t a bad thing for Max Goodin to strive for.
Now all the first-time head coach has to do is get it.
Goodin is quick to point out that his senior class is now on its fourth coach — Steve Spinks started the 2021 season, interim coach Dan Rector finished it and Casey Gillin helmed the Braves the last two years — and so his top priority has been earning those players’ trust and establishing “a consistent standard” for them as quickly as possible.
The plan is to stick around long enough to make those standards a built-in expectation. Goodin has done his share of moving around in his young coaching career, but after a successful four-year run as the defensive coordinator at Decatur Central — which he helped to the Class 5A state championship game last fall — he’s ready to settle into the Indian Creek community for the long haul and be the steady long-term presence that Braves football hasn’t had since Mike Gillin went 140-45 over a legendary 16-year run (2001-16).
As he succeeds Mike’s son Casey and the team comes off of an 8-4 campaign, Goodin isn’t looking to make unnecessary wholesale changes.
“The Gillins are Indian Creek football in a lot of ways,” Goodin said. “Mike, obviously, being here as long as he was, there’s plenty of people around here who will tell you that’s the person that they look to when they think of this program — and Casey modeled a lot of what Mike did. I think that the program’s in a good spot, and I think that the kids work hard. There’s always areas of improvement, but … I didn’t feel like, ‘Man, we’ve got to change everything.’ I feel good about where we’re at.”
There is plenty of reason for optimism. The Braves need to replace graduated quarterback Jalen Sauer, but returnees Malachi Mink, Bobby Emberton, Jaxon Ramey and Levi Pappas have 161 pass receptions between them over the last two years.
Goodin doesn’t expect to change a ton offensively, but between his own previous experience and the addition of coordinator Gunnar Ranard from Whiteland, he does plan to make his mark on defense.
“There will always be our stamp on that side of the ball,” Goodin said.
Beyond any schematic alterations, though, Goodin is looking to create a program that empowers the players to lead the way as much as they’re capable of. The buck always stops with the head coach, of course, but he’d prefer not to be an authoritarian leader who rules with an iron fist.
He wants to help his young players grow by entrusting them with more responsibilities and allowing them, at least in some ways, to determine the direction they travel in.
“I’m a big believer in extreme ownership,” Goodin said. “The more ownership that you give the kids, all the way down to ‘What jerseys do you want to wear?’ to, do you guys want to be in charge of players that are late to practice? How are you going to hold them accountable? It can’t just be me.”
With no pre-existing ties to Indian Creek or to the Gillin family, it would be easy for Goodin to feel like an outsider coming in — but he says he’s been welcomed with open arms and appreciates the community’s passion for the sport.
“I’ve felt very supported,” Goodin said. “I’ve never felt like I have needed something and there wasn’t someone there to say, ‘How can I help?’ … You can tell the community loves football; you can tell that it matters. Obviously, it’s different from a 5A, 6A; there’s differences there. But there’s a lot of positives, too, and I would tell anyone that.”
Consistently.
2024 SCHEDULE
Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 23;Cascade;7 p.m.
Aug. 30;at Greenwood;7 p.m.
Sept. 6;at Owen Valley;7 p.m.
Sept. 13;Lapel;7 p.m.
Sept. 20;at Greencastle;7 p.m.
Sept. 27;at Edgewood;7 p.m.
Oct. 4;Arsenal Tech;7 p.m.
Oct. 11;Sullivan;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18;at Northview;7 p.m.
SCOUTING THE BRAVES
Coach: Max Goodin
Last season: 8-4, lost to Batesville in Class 3A sectional final
Who’s back?: DL Joe Buras, LB Jacob Doughty, OL Kaleb Eakle, WR Bobby Emberton, WR/DB Brayden Lowhorn, DL Corey McVicar, RB Malachi Mink, ATH Levi Pappas, LB Carson Volz and DB Ben Wagler, seniors; OL Riley Davis, LB Nate Nash and WR/DB Jaxon Ramey, juniors; DB Alec Burress, DL Nathan Dillingham, WR J.R. Ferguson and LB Grady Walker, sophomores
New faces to watch: OL/DL Landon Thomas, junior; K Jacob Gumerson, sophomore; QB Evan Clark, freshman
What to expect: Though the current group of seniors is now on its fourth coach (if you include an interim on the back half of 2021), the Braves appear to be in pretty good shape overall. Facilities, from the field to the weight room, have been upgraded, and Goodin has a solid core of veteran players at the skill positions to build around. The biggest area to watch for changes will be on defense, where the new head coach and his staff will look to put their own imprint.
Offensively, Goodin will open the year with a true freshman under center in Clark, but he’s confident that the experience around the newcomer will help smooth the initiation process. Emberton, Mink, Pappas and Ramey all got significant touches last season and should again; the latter two are also expected to contribute heavily on the other side of the ball. Thomas, a Franklin Central transfer, will be a key on both lines of scrimmage. Indian Creek opens with a pair of challenging opponents, but Goodin hopes that the early tests will help get his team ready for a run at what would be the first sectional title since 2011 in Trafalgar.
