Glenn Griffin had been waiting for close to 30 years to become a head football coach.

Now his time has come.

Griffin was officially hired Tuesday as McIntosh’s new head football coach, taking over for Dwight Jones, who resigned in January to take the same position at Jones County after going 2-18 in his two seasons at McIntosh.

Griffin previously was Starr’s Mill’s defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach since the school opened in 1997.

His coaching experience includes two years at Palmetto High School and one year each at Paulding County, Hart County and Upson Lee High Schools.

Griffin was athletic director and assistant coach at Cartersville High School for 10 years.

He is excited about the opportunity to finally be a head coach, a position he never has held in his 26-year coaching career, primarily because his main focus has been on his family.

“I got in this business 26 years ago to become a head coach,” Griffin said. “My goal in five years was to be a head coach. Before I knew it, I moved up the ranks. I was single at the time.

“Being single, I was able to move around and learn more. Then, when I was in Cartersville with [Starr’s Mill coach] Mike Earwood, I met my wife. Once I got married, I put my goal of being a head coach on the back shelf.

“I had some opportunities [to become a head coach], but I either didn’t get the offer or didn’t pull the trigger. I just felt the time was right to take this job.”

Griffin feels the situation at McIntosh is somewhat comparable to that of Starr’s Mill.

“To a certain degree, McIntosh is similar to Starr’s Mill,” Griffin said. “The administration at McIntosh is supportive like it is here at Starr’s Mill. The kids are very similar; they are kids with high character, and they work hard, just like the kids here at Starr’s Mill. McIntosh is a very good school in all areas with the exception of football.

“I plan to change that.”

Griffin is confident that he can build a winning program at McIntosh, which has gone 12-38 in the last five years, though he admits it will take time and patience.

“I think football can be successful at McIntosh,” Griffin said. “Things won’t change overnight, though. Winning here will take somebody who is patient, and everybody has to have the common goal to be successful. I wouldn’t have taken this job if I didn’t think I could be successful here.”

Griffin is currently in the process of putting together a coaching staff, which could include current McIntosh and Starr’s Mill assistants.

“It’s very early in the process right now,” Griffin said. “We have to make sure about teaching positions. I do have some people in mind. I have a pretty good idea who will be leaving and who will be staying.”

A integral part of the rebuilding process at McIntosh, according to Griffin, will be developing a feeder system.

“Once the staff is put together, we need to get the middle school and youth football programs together,” Griffin said. “They are the future of the McIntosh program.”

One of the first steps toward building a winning program at McIntosh will come during spring practice, which Griffin doesn’t expect to hold until between the end of April and mid-May.

“We should decide in the next couple of weeks when spring practice will be held,” Griffin said. “Spring practice may be more about the basics and fundamentals.”

Griffin’s specialty is on the defensive side of the ball. He plans to confuse offenses with multiple fronts and various blitz packages.

“We’ll be multiple, but we’ll keep it simple for the kids,” Griffin said. “We'll bring pressure when needed. In our defense, the kids will have to have a great motor and play at a high level.”

Griffin’s offensive philosophy is centered around establishing the running game. Having worked with Earwood since 1986, Griffin has vast knowledge of the Wing-T offense, a ball-control system of which Earwood is a strong proponent, and that predominantly features a power rushing attack.

“I know it sounds cliche, offensively, I’m about balance,” Griffin said. “You have to run the ball at times and throw the ball at times. Obviously, my background is in the Wing-T.

“We’ll be more of a run-oriented team. Running the ball helps you control the tempo of the game. I still have to evaluate the kids, though.”

Griffin also is a firm believer in a sound kicking game.

“I’m a stickler for the kicking game,” Griffin said. “It’s the great equalizer.”

McIntosh athletic director/assistant principal Steve Cole feels Griffin will excel as a first-time head coach.

“It just seems like a great fit,” Cole said. “I think he’ll blossom in this position.”