Plato used the term the “measure of a man” by referring to the character of a person: the character and integrity of a person can be measured by the way he responds to the power he is given. I want to believe that Plato had Harry Wayne Parrish in mind when he wrote those words.
When Harry Wayne Parrish was named the first head football coach and athletics director at Northview High School, he was tasked with creating a brand new football program. This was no easy feat in 1978 considering he was at a newly opened school; this was his first head coaching position; and at 30 years of age he was younger than the parents of the boys who were playing for him. Little did the Dothan City School Board know that when they hired Parrish for this job, they made a very wise choice. Time would soon tell that he was the perfect person to lead the new school into a new era.
Although he played football at Dothan High School and at the University of Alabama, Harry Wayne’s experience as a coach prior to Northview was that as an assistant at Tuscaloosa, Daleville and Dothan High Schools. When Sharon Welch finally agreed to go out and later marry Harry Wayne, one wonders if she knew what was in store for them both! Ten years of changing jobs before they both settled at Northview. During these early coaching years, Harry Wayne and Sharon also expanded their home team with three awesome children - Jenni, Hunter and Josh.
In the spring of 1978, some say close to 200 aspiring football players attended the inaugural spring training at Rip Hewes Stadium. The school was set to open that fall and football season was fast approaching. The spring weather was muggy and wet. The on-field intensity was high. The practices were enthusiastic but brutal. However, Coach Parrish had a plan - mold these eager players into a winning team without sacrificing integrity and character of the Program.
To become a winning program Coach Parrish had to build trust with his players and their families. Even before that, he had to build trust with his assistant coaches. Bubba Johnson, Randy Hicks, Floyd Griffin, Jerry Andrews, Donald Tribune and Mack Kirkland are names you all know. Coaching legends in their own right. Little did they know at the time they would remain together for many years as they built a championship program.
Building any successful football program takes hard work, dedication and long hours. Starting a program from scratch requires even more integrity and character of a man who takes on the responsibilities and power that position calls for. Harry Wayne Parrish was the right man for the job whether he was borrowing equipment from other schools; bartering with vendors to have the campus practice field created; or when he was picking up or driving players home in his pickup truck. Harry Wayne did whatever was needed to build the Northview into a winning program. He did these things with little fanfare or attention. He got things done to make his program successful and one that the Northview family would be proud of.
Integrity
Coach also realized that just as crucial, if not more so, character, responsibility and priorities were cornerstone traits on and off the field. Without the importance of academic achievement and positive characteristics within the community, the football program would not succeed. Harry Wayne and his coaches worked tirelessly to instill these values in the players - the foundation of the Program. Coach set such a fine example. He walked the walk every day. No shortcuts were taken. Doing things the right way was expected.
While the wins and losses are in the record books and have their importance, Coach Parrish’s legacy lies with the thousands of young men and women he impacted along the way. There are many success stories from students who learned life lessons from Coach to turn their lives around or to help guide them along their respective journeys. Many have gone on to successful careers in coaching, the military, medicine, law, community leaders, and so much more. Almost everyone has a lasting memory or story to tell about Coach Parrish.
Those who played for Coach Parrish will always remember how fair and honorable a man he was to each of us. We might not have liked what he had to say, but at the time it was the right message to hear. Woven into the “Sam Hills,” "Bird Heads," and “Daggumits” were those tough lessons on and off the field. Reflecting back from all those decades ago I have a full appreciation of what Coach Parrish stood for and how he so positively impacted our lives. Lessons we all use as adults and share with our children. Coach’s lessons are generational.
Coach Parrish’s impact on the Dothan community was best seen last August when the two state championship teams were honored at Rip Hewes Stadium before one of Dothan High’s games. Gathered on the field were more than fifty players from those two teams. As the video tributes from each season played it was apparent that Coach was caught up in the moment - his moment. Time for him to reflect and take in what the past decades of his work had created. Grown men. Teammates. Brothers. Hugging, laughing, reminiscing. Remembering. Honoring. It was the perfect moment for so many reasons.
During his years at the helm of the Northview Program, Harry Wayne was never one to take credit, but he always took the blame. The August reunion was the perfect time for the much deserved credit to bestow upon him. His flowers. His time. Not a dry eye could be found when it was announced that Dothan High’s practice field was named in his honor. Such a fitting tribute to a man who measured up to the best.
With love,
Cougars Nation
