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Central picks Arkansas coach to head program

Greg Bigham has worked as an assistant on 13-1, state runner-up team.

By JOHN SCHWARB
Published February 18, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - Greg Bigham has had a hand in developing state-championship level high school teams.

Central athletic director John Sedlack did not need that kind of a sales pitch, but he liked what he saw, naming Bigham as the Bears' new head coach. Bigham, 40, replaces John Wilkinson, who resigned in December due to family reasons.

An Arkansas native, Bigham heard about Central's opening from Crystal River athletic director Earl Bramlett. Bigham interviewed for the Pirates' opening last year. He also interviewed at Gulf.

"My initial thing with Central, I was really impressed with what I was able to find out. Everything sounded real positive," Bigham said. "I knew (Wilkinson) had been here three years and last year went 8-2, so he must have done some good things, laid a foundation."

With that foundation, Sedlack said he was looking for a solid successor - not someone with unrealistic expectations.

"(Bigham's) not expecting the miracles, to "take you to the next level,"' Sedlack said. "I've had enough of guys who could "take us to the next level' because they don't know the first thing about Central or the area."

Fifty-seven applied for the opening, with Bigham emerging from four finalists. The others were Tarpon Springs assistant coach Bruce Buck, Central assistant Cliff Lohrey and William Bond, a prep assistant from Alabama.

Bigham has one year of head coach experience, at Greenville Christian (Miss.) in 1998. In 2002 he was a defensive line coach at Ocala West Port and in 2003 worked under legendary Arkansas prep coach Frank McClellan, a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame.

At Barton High in Arkansas, Bigham coached the offense on a team that went 13-1 and finished runner-up in state.

"I had heard (McClellan's) name before Bigham told me about him," Sedlack said. "Frank taught him to get a lot of mileage out of who you have. Kids don't necessarily have to be great athletes to be good football players in his system."

Central played most of last season with 21 players, not enough to have full 11-on-11 drills. But Bigham said that was little concern.

"I'm familiar with that situation," he said. "I understand how to manage when you don't get the great players."

Bigham played college ball in the mid-80s at age 28, returning to complete his degree at the University of Arkansas after five years in the Air Force. He was a walk-on linebacker.

Bigham will be a physical education teacher at Central. His coaching supplement was to be determined, but this season county head football coaches made $3,321 as a supplement. His wife also is a teacher, and they have two children.

[Last modified February 18, 2005, 00:14:17]