Coach Riggs introduced as 
Holly Springs football coach

 

Coach David Riggs


 By Nick Stevens

David Riggs was officially introduced Tuesday evening as the next head football coach of the Holly Springs Golden Hawks.

Riggs comes to Holly Springs out of retirement. His last coaching job was during the 2007 season at Fuquay-Varina High School, an arch rival of Holly Springs.

Riggs, who won a state championship at Broughton in 1970, said Holly Springs athletic director Andy Wheeler contacted him after Hynus announced his resignation asking for his opinion on strong candidates for the open position.

"Then Coach Wheeler called me an asked me if I would be interested," said Riggs. "I really don't necessarily want to go back into the classroom after 30 years, I'm not going to move my wife again, so one thing led to another and here we are."

Riggs called the situation "special" because he could continue living in his current home, would not have to teach, and would still be close enough to have players over to his house. Each Wednesday, Riggs and his wife, Marie, host a few players for dinner.

Despite not teaching at the school, Riggs said he plans to be in the weight room this spring and wants to volunteer at the school.

The incoming coach had nothing but positive things to say about Hynus and the job he did with the Golden Hawks' program.

“He and his coaching staff should be complimented and certainly praised for what they have done," Riggs said. “That’s going to make my life a lot better over the next few months. I can’t say enough about the good job he did here.”

This past fall, Holly Springs had a late, game-winning drive at Fuquay-Varina to knock off the Bengals in football for the first time in school history.

The game marked the start of a new rivalry, and with the Hawks taking a former Fuquay-Varina coach that is highly respected at the school, it is sure to increase the level of rivalry next season.

Riggs, however, keeps Fuquay-Varina, which has a David Riggs Day, close to his heart.

"I sort of help put that coaching staff together over there, I'm very close to them, I still keep in touch with them," he said.

Riggs added that he hired current head coach Ryan Habich as an assistant coach under him at Fuquay-Varina.

The veteran coach isn't convinced that his hire at Holly Springs will spice up the rivalry all that much, though.

"It may pick it up a notch, but they've already created that in basketball, football, maybe some of the other sports," he said. "For most people, I don't think it's going to really matter that much."

Riggs said things will be different for him.

“I think it’s going to be more awkward for me than anybody over there at Fuquay," Riggs said. "I think it will be difficult. It will be tough."

Riggs said he informed the coaches at Fuquay-Varina of the situation at Holly Springs prior to Tuesday's announcement.

"Most of them were just great, they were excited, they congratulated me," Riggs said. "They said they'd have to take away my Fuquay-Varina day from me."

Just because he'll be across the field on the opposite sideline from his friends at Fuquay-Varina, Riggs doesn't think much will change.

"They're great, they're good friends, and we'll stay close to them," he said. "I think other people make more out of it than what it needs to be."

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Football Is More Than A Game

There are a lot of things going on in our society today that convern me.  The enemy of American growth, as I see it, is the potential within ourselves to become laze, to slow down, to get discouraged, to quite, to fail in self-discipline, and to lack creativity and commitment to working together.

With many discouraging things happening in our society, I see the game of football as a great avenue to teach much about life.  There are many valuable lessons to be gained from participating in football on the high school level.  In the right perspective, I believe that football can be one of the most wholesome, exciting, and valuable activities in which any young man can participate.  It teaches boys to work hard, to have control of themselves, to gain self-respect, to give forth great effort, and at the same time to learn to follow the rules of the game, and to respect the rights of others, and to stay within the bounds dictated by decency and sportsmanship.

Football teaches people how to "win", I am not talking about just winning a ball game, but winning the battle over "self".  Sure, winning the game is important, but learning to develop poise, confidence, and pride in oneself and one's undertakings is the real objective of "winning" football.  We need to remember that being a winner does not mean that you always winn the game, but it has to do with striving to do one's best.

I feel that high school football is a great way to build any young man's overall character and therefore his life.  Character develops from hard work; from never giving up from h elping each other to be one's best, from striving for unity in working with each other, and from being proud of doing one's best.  Playing football is great, but we must never lose sight of the fact that is is just a game, that it is a means to an end.  We should encourage the boys to work hard and enjoy it, but never forget that you cannot play flootball all you life.

I really belive football is one of the greatest games in the world.  I have played and coached both on the high school and collegel level.  Football has taught me how to work hard and play hard with my fellow man in the true spirit of sportsmanship.  If you let it, and with the right kind of leadership, football will give you some permanent values that will make you a better citizen and a better human being.  I would like to encourage any young man to join our football program.

 ~ Coach Riggs

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Off Season Work Outs Underway

Work outs are held from 2:45pm - 4:15pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  You MUST have a valid physical on file in order to participate.  All participants must have transportation ready to depart campus at 4:15pm after work outs.

 

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Varsity Athletes:
Order your
Letterman Jacket
now!

Log on to www.neffco.com
Click on The Jacket Shop
School:  Holly Springs High School
Password: 040961



ALL orders are taken online

Please see your Coach if you have a question regarding your qualifications for a Letterman Jacket

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LET'S GO HAWKS!!