We’re less than a month away from the start of a new season of high school football. A new
season means new storylines and opportunities for teams and players to shine on Friday nights.
Usually, we get to talk about high expectations for teams expected to compete for
championships. But there is also another storyline where we get to discuss coaches heading into their first seasons at their respective programs.
As we near the start of the Outside the Huddle 2023 season preview, new OTH correspondent Sam Frick had an opportunity to catch up with several of the newbies recently.
Next up – new South Side head coach Andre Goodwell.
A new era of Archers football.
A new coaching staff, new turf field, and a plethora of young talent.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we have reached South Side’s growing phase in 2023.
Andre Goodwell is a familiar face in SAC football as he was an all-conference running back at Harding.. After recently coaching football and basketball at Bishop Luers, Goodwell is now embarking on his first varsity head coaching tenure, leading a program that has not posted a winning season since 2009. In fact, the Archers have spent the past three seasons either tied for last or dead last in the SAC.
A change in culture is necessary, and that is what Andre has in mind for the upcoming season. This summer has seen positive success according to Goodwell, with the Archers capturing a division title at the inaugural Parkview Sports Medicine’s 7-on-7 Tournament at East Noble.
Goodwell said his team has had a great summer and has seen tremendous growth from their freshmen and sophomores. Goodwell points to freshman J’Ron Irby and Kendrick Alexander to have impactful seasons on the football field.
Irby is one of South Side’s more athletically gifted players, coming out of Portage Middle School as a versatile football player and a track standout. Alexander is one of three very solid quarterbacks that have been competing for the starting position, and he showcased a strong showing in the 7-on-7 event.
Brian Eldridge, a Hamilton Southeastern transfer, is seen as a hard worker that is one of many seniors in this program.
Goodwell said that consistency is going to be a key part in being able to build from their growing pains. The key area of improvement for this Archers team lies in their strength and conditioning, where Goodwell has already made his presence known in his messages.
“We’ve been pushing in the weight room real hard this summer, and our boys have been accepting that if we lift every day, we will lift everyday throughout the season,” said Goodwell. “With our depth not being our strong suit right now, we have been asking a lot of guys to do a lot of things. We have to be strong; we have to be in condition to play the game of football.”
As we reach this new era for the program, they know it is going to take time to regain the winning culture that the Archers once had. But right now, the focus at hand is preparing for their Week 1 game at Marion on August 18.
As for Goodwell, he is already looking forward to getting started in his new challenge awaiting him.
“Like I said, I’m still living in a dream,” said Goodwell. “I’m trying to get grounded and get myself out of that dreaming stage. I think coming out of the tunnel for the first game – the emotions and everything -will really get to me that I’ve arrived as a head coach. And I’m leading a group of men that hopefully will do great things for themselves during and after high school.”
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