Back on the field: Paz working with Pioneer freshmen
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Paz, the head coach of the high school program from 1971-73, has volunteered to coach with the Pioneer freshman team after being approached by acting varsity head coach Chris Madewell.
“I owe Warren County and this school system an awful lot, and Chris asked me to help, so I’m here to do whatever I can,” Paz said Thursday, prior to the Pioneer freshmen’s contest against Tullahoma. “I’m just helping Chris out, and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if I can help, I’ll be glad to.”
Madewell coached the freshmen to victory over Manchester Westwood last week, but earlier this week was named the acting head coach of the varsity squad due to the suspension of coach Gerald Tidwell.
With the program already dealing with a shortage of coaches, Paz said he volunteered to help the freshman program learn the fundamentals they’ll need as they move up through the system.
“I was a little apprehensive,” he admitted. “If I teach somebody to tackle, I don’t know if I’ll get sued or not. But I’ll try to teach them what I know, and give them knowledge of the basics of football.
“These freshmen have been together for two or three years, and they’re winners. I’m just glad they’re taking me along for the ride.”
Paz noted he’s already fairly familiar with the current crop of freshman, which includes his grandson, Josh.
“In a way it’s personal, and that was another thing I was apprehensive about,” Paz said of his family connection with the squad. “Some people might thing that’s the only reason I’m doing this, because he’s on the team.
“But like I say, I owe Warren County a lot, and I’m here to try and help this program. Whatever they want to do, that’s what I’m there to do. I’m not trying to get back into coaching, and I kind of miss my fall fishing, anyway. But I think we’ve got a good group of athletes at this level, and I see a light at the end of the tunnel for this football program at Warren County. So I’m just happy to be here with them and help out any way I can.”