By: Joe Delaney

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

It’s spring time! And while the Glynn Academy Red Terrors rack up win after win on the courts, the pitch, and the track. Let’s take a look at the numero uno Head man of the Glynn Academy football program. That’s Rocky Hidalgo.

Rocky came to Glynn in 2014. He inherited a program that while being competitive was also very tired.

Rob Ridings’ 10-year reign from 2004 to 2013 had stabilized the program. But the ‘my way or the highway’ regiment grew old to many. That included fans, boosters, coaches, players, and the administration.

By 2013 the writing was on the wall and ole Rob hit the road. The good thing about this was that the Glynn people had time to really look around and get a great, young, qualified coach. And that’s exactly what they did.

Enter one mister Rocky Hidalgo from Walton High School in Marietta.

Over a 5 year stretch from 2009 to 2013 Walton had won 40 games while losing only 18. This was also in the uber competitive North Atlanta area.

Could he bring his magic to a Glynn program that desperately needed leadership? Well, the proof is in the pudding. Glynn got the right guy.

As Rocky enters his second decade on the southside, Glynn has become a solid winning program. No, they haven’t won state…yet.

But they’ve come about as close as you can, losing in a great State Championship game in only his second year. Glynn fell to Allatoona 10-6  at the Georgia Dome. Add in a final four appearance in 2017 with a 4-point loss to eventual state champion Lee County and you get the idea. Glynn Academy football is in good hands.

To understand how positive this coach and staff have been. Take this into consideration. Rocky Hidalgo has won 81 games in 10 years at Glynn. He won 40 games in 5 years at Walton. As it sits right now, he is the second winningest coach in Red Terror history, which goes back to before World War 1.

He trails only the great C.M. Page who won 108 games over an 18-year span in the 40’s and 50’s. Add in Rockys’ 4 region championships in 10 years. Wow.

The results have come with some great players who have been committed to the program and the school. Rocky couldn’t win all those games and go deep into the playoffs without guys like Peyton Parker, David Prince, Greg Peacock, DeeJay Dallas, Garrison Heard, Kendall Cross, Randon Jernigan, Jack Podlesney, and on and on. Guys that were all dedicated to the program and committed to a winning tradition built by Coach Rocky Hidalgo.

Oh, and Glynn’s record against Brunswick during Rockys time with the Terrors is 7-3. Just wanted to be clear on that!

With the Terrors coming off of an 8-3 campaign in 2023, look for great things as the Red Terrors head into 2024 under the Rock!