Pilcher eyes playoffs as future goal for Berrien

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Ed Pilcher advises one of his Bainbridge players in 2012. He became Berrien’s head coach in February after five years with the Bearcats. Pilcher is Berrien’s fourth head coach in four years. Hubby Brooks

March 4, 2013

Pilcher eyes playoffs as future goal for Berrien

Becky Taylor CNHI The Tifton Gazette Mon Mar 04, 2013, 09:06 PM EST

TIFTON — The Berrien Rebels pulled off one of the biggest coaching coups this offseason when they hired Ed Pilcher to take over the reins. Now, Pilcher’s job is to infuse winning tradition to a program trying to find its feet.

After Rob Armstrong resigned in January to take a job as assistant at Clark Atlanta University, the Rebels were faced with having their fourth head coach in four years. After Ryan Branch’s three-year stint ended after the 2010 season, Tony Long took control in 2011. A year later, the team became Armstrong’s.

Pilcher, who left Bainbridge two months ago, admits that having three daughters living in the area was motivation in making the decision to come to Nashville. “That was a big drawing card,” he said.

The Rebels went 3-7 in 2012 after two straight seasons finishing 1-9. Rob Armstrong’s squad got off to a strong start, winning two of their first three games and even broke a string of 16 consecutive region losses against Pelham. “They were very competitive last year; they just ran out of gas,” said Pilcher.

Part of the reason for running out of gas was small numbers. Building up the roster is a priority of Pilcher’s. He said the Rebels finished out the year with about 28 players in uniform. “We’ve got to get some more kids out,” he said. The coach does not believe it will be a problem to get more players, as Berrien County is supportive. “The community’s been good, but it’s always been good.”

Pilcher, of course, will also have to deal with his region opposition, a formidable lineup of schools. “[Region 1-AA] is the toughest in the state,” he said. Brooks County went undefeated during the regular season. Fitzgerald fell in triple overtime in the quarterfinals to Jefferson, who won the Class AA crown. Cook last missed the postseason in 1999. Thomasville missed the postseason this year, which snapping a string of 16 years.

“We just have to get to the playoffs,” he said. “Once you get in the playoffs anything can happen.”

The last postseason game for Berrien came in 1993, a loss in the region playoffs to Waycross. The Rebels have seen state just once in their long history, an existence that stretches back to 1954. The appearance was in 1991, a year that saw them win their lone region championship and topple Seminole County in the first round of state before falling to Mary Persons in the quarterfinals.

Pilcher spent five seasons at Bainbridge, reaching the playoffs in three seasons. He is best known, though, for his 17 years at Thomas County Central, where he compiled a 169-54-0 mark, went to the postseason 16 times and won five state championships. He was also a head coach at Early County, making the semifinals twice. This will actually be his second stint at Berrien, though first as head coach. He was an assistant to Bill McCall from 1983 to 1985, years that saw the Rebels have an overall winning record and just miss the playoffs in his final year.

Pilcher said that he is making no major changes, other than bringing in a couple of new assistants. He is working, though, on instilling an attitude in the players. “We just have to make them accountable to themselves and the team.”

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