A new era begins at Concord as Glenn Padgett is named head coach

As part of the warm embrace he’s received after being introduced as the Concord Spiders’ next football coach on Monday, Glen Padgett says the one thing that has stuck out in his mind is the several people that have approached him and said “welcome home again.”

Previously a Concord High teacher, athletic director, and coach for 11 years, Padgett remained a resident of Concord even as he left the school in 1998 to pursue other coaching opportunities. Now, after head coaching stints at Salisbury (1998), Northwest Cabarrus (1999-2001), and North Mecklenburg (2002-2008), Padgett is excited about taking over for good friend E.Z. Smith.

“I’ve been in this community for 22 years,” he said. “I’ve realized Concord High carries a special relationship with the community. A lot of communities don’t have that type of relationship.”

From 1987 to 1998, Padgett was one of Smith’s assistants, eventually assuming the responsibility of coaching the linebackers and wide receivers/tight ends.

Padgett was 1-3 coaching against Concord, losing as Salisbury’s coach in 1998 (21-6), and with Northwest Cabarrus in 2000 (20-17). The Trojans beat the Spiders under Padgett’s leadership in the regular season in 1999 (7-3) but lost to them in the 3A state playoffs that year, 24-14.

He says he hasn’t seen the Spiders play since he left Northwest Cabarrus after the 2001 season. Not only did North Mecklenburg not play Concord during Padgett’s reign, the 4A Vikings rarely had any common opponents with the 3A Spiders.

Padgett’s week began by addressing his players at North Mecklenburg, where he compiled a 48-39 record in seven seasons. While no one could keep his interest in the Concord job a secret, he says that some Vikings players were “shocked” to hear that he was leaving.

He met with Concord’s players on Thursday and says he will begin spring workouts on Apr. 20, the first day of school after Spring Break. Padgett says he’s already started work on compiling a coaching staff, talking with current Spiders coaches, many who were non-faculty, and those from other schools who may be interested in working at Concord.

Padgett says he understands the challenges of taking over for a former mentor and a man who many would deem a legend in his community. Smith coached the Spiders for 29 seasons, winning 3AA state championships in 2004 and 2006, and compiling a 252-104 career record.

“The first thing you do, from an approach standpoint, is that (you recognize) it’s reality and you can’t change it. You coach as hard as you can and get players to play as hard as they can.
“… When you get sidetracked worrying about other things, they’ll cause detriment to your team. As coaches, we expect the players’ best and players should expect the same from their coaches.”

Padgett says he and Smith have met and viewed game tape, discussing player personnel and team strengths and areas that need to be addressed.
The Spiders finished 3-8 in 2008, their first losing season since 1987 and the first time they’ve missed the state playoffs since 1995.