Independence first-year coach will try to rekindle title tradition
Justin Hardin understands Independence High’s championship mentality.
The coach is eager to build on the Patriots’ legacy of seven straight N.C. 4A titles in 2001-06 with a team that expects to advance to the championship round for the first time since then.
“There’s always a high expectation here at Independence and I know each year each group is going to be hungry to compete for a state championship,” said Hardin, who moved from Providence, which he led to the third round of the 4AA playoffs last year. “That’s our goal here and what we’ve got to focus on is the small things first – getting better week to week during the season so by the playoff time we’re seasoned and ready to make a run.”
The Patriots (12-1 in 2014) looked primed for such a campaign last year with an undefeated regular season only to fall flat against Hough in the second round of the 4AA playoffs. The players haven’t forgotten that crushing end to a promising season.
“It’s a real high standard, especially coming off what we did last year,” senior defensive tackle Christian Colon said, “but at the same time, everybody knows all the pieces we have left, kind of looking at what we’re going to do, what the new face of the program is going to turn out to be because of coach Hardin.”
Hardin has put his stamp on the program with an emphasis on physical play that starts with the line of scrimmage. The Patriots adjusted to those expectations, which has produced a different attitude.
“With the changes, the spring wasn’t great, but now that we’re in the second week of August, the kids are playing faster and more confident with the schemes and terminology,” Hardin said. “They understand how we’re going to coach them. We’re going to be very demanding on their effort of being physical.”
Those demands quickly got Colon’s attention.
“Everybody at first wasn’t quite sure about coach Hardin, like what kind of vibe he was going to bring to the team,” said Colon, a Penn State recruit. “Me as a leader, as a senior stepping up and buying into it, everybody is jumping on and buying in as well.”
A major change is at quarterback, where senior Christian McPhail takes over for the graduated Kelvin Hopkins. In Hardin’s offense, McPhail won’t be the sole focus in a scheme that will emphasize the run first.
“Christian McPhail is doing a good job,” Hardin said. “He’s picking up things well and he’s just got to be confident in himself and the guys around him in the offense to make plays for him.”
Defensively, the key is Colon, a 6-foot-4, 315-pounder who tallied 117 tackles as a junior. He’s especially eager to return Independence to its championship glory.
“It’s always been the motto – if it ain’t a state championship game, it ain’t good enough,” Colon said. “We’re always going to have that chip on our shoulder. We’ve got to live in the shadow of the old players, so everybody wants to do something new.”
That’s the attitude Hardin believes will take the Patriots far in 2015.
“The kids are buying into what we’re teaching on the field scheme-wise, and also the discipline aspect of it,” he said. “They’re good kids, they like football, work hard and I’m pleased with them right now.”
This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Independence first-year coach will try to rekindle title tradition."