Hillcrest football has a new head coach for the first time in a decade as Justin Gerald, an alumnus of Hillcrest, will take over for John Beckham. Gerald was an assistant on staff under Beckham and served as head coach of the Hillcrest girls basketball program.
“It’s a tremendous honor. Being able to coach at the school you played is an awesome achievement for those that coach high school sports. I can’t say it’s been a lifelong dream because It’s only been something I’ve thought of since I started coaching in 2009,” Gerald said. “I want to be able to do for my athletes as those did for me when I played, which is to help create a bond and memories that last a lifetime while instilling life values that allow our players to become successful members of a community.”
He takes over for the city’s longest tenured football coach in Beckham, who improved the Hillcrest football program in every way in his time as head coach.
“Beckham has done so much for the program,” Gerald said. “We have one of, if not, the best locker room in the city. Our weight room is top of the line. Beckham created a family environment ever since he started. That’s where a lot of our success has come from over the past years.”
Even though Gerald is now the head coach, some of Beckham’s philosophies will continue to impact the Hillcrest program.
“‘Do something for someone else today’. This something Beckham would tell to the kids all the time. If we care for those around us and help those in our community in need, we could have a dynamic like no other in this area. I truly believe that,” Gerald said.
Gerald served as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach last year. The familiarity with the players and program should help ease the transition.
“I think being on staff can make the transition easier than some other situations. However, the relationship you’ve created with your position group is going to be different than being the relationship is with the head coach,” Gerald said. “On the other hand, those guys know what I expect from them and can be the leaders for our team as we make the transition, which is what’s happening. I think being the D-coordinator last year is helping the most with the transition having half the team already under your leadership helps tremendously.”
Gerald doesn’t have any specific schematic changes in mind at this time as he plans to adjust his schemes to the athletes that come out for the team this summer and fall.
Gerald also acknowledged this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without strong support from his wife and children.
“I do want to thank to my wife for allowing me to be the person I am. Without her, I would not be in this position of success. As we all know being a coach takes you away from the family a lot. She is an amazing person. She wrangles our three daughters and come football season our first boy while I get to enjoy one of the things I love doing the most, coaching,” Gerald said.
