The Paradox of Coach Jim Lofton
By Fletcher Law, assistant coach
1991-1993, North Hall
Coach Jim Lofton has built a
well-known reputation for his football coaching and Christian character.
What is less known about him by
those who did not know him in his coaching career is perhaps his equal devotion
to teaching. This was never in doubt
working for him. This is another lesson
young coaches can learn from him. As a
young assistant he made a lasting impression on how a coach has a calling to
teach your academic area, your sport and character by example.
A vivid memory of mine was once walking
out of the North Hall field house through the washroom.
Future Clemson Tiger and NFL lineman
Corey Hulsey, all 6’4 and 330 plus pounds of him and fully dressed out in pads,
was sitting on the washer with his helmet by his side. Coach Lofton was standing by him with an open
book. It was not a playbook on how to
block 14 Blast. Coach had in his hand an
English Literature book helping Corey with Shakespeare. Many people would not know that Coach had a
master’s degree in English from Emory University. I was surprised to learn that Corey was not
even in Coach Lofton’s class. Coach was
delaying getting on the field for Lit for a student who also was a football
player.
As a new coach I was warned by
defensive coordinator David Stephens about Coach Lofton’s intensity on the
sideline on a Friday night. Another
paradox about Coach Lofton was our practices were teaching sessions. Game days were different. The coin had been flipped and the kick-off
team I headed up was huddling up ready to start the game. Coach Lofton grabbed my shoulder and hollered
“I can’t believe that!” “What?” was my
shocked and puzzled response. Coach said
“There’s (name deleted to protect the guilty) in the stands. I taught him freshman Health and he played
here four years. And now he is up there
smoking a cigarette.” In shock and
disappointment he added “After all I taught him.” Teaching freshman Health class was as
important as Literature or running the 14 Blast or 20 trap properly.
One practice I was concerned about
telling Coach that I had to leave early on the next day’s practice because the
school I taught at was having a PTA meeting.
He told me sternly that it concerned him greatly to see coaches not take teaching
seriously. He told me once at practice
he was concerned about having a soft drink ad on the scoreboard. Coach was concerned about what even his
students drank and ate for snacks. He
believed in his system he had formulated by being a student. He was always improving himself and refining
his system to see why he included certain stretches and exercises and play
calls. He had a system and he was always
refining it. He taught his assistant coaches his system. We all knew what all eleven were to do on
every play. He and we knew what all
eleven were to do on defense.
One of his assistants told me a
clinic story. Coach Lofton was listening
to Bill Yeoman the inventor of the Houston veer offense speak. Coach asked the big time college coach what
the backside tackle was to do on the outside veer. The “expert” coach told Coach Lofton he did
not know. This was astounding for
Coach. This is perhaps why were to be
taught the idea of the “big picture”.
Coach Lofton taught and led his
assistant coaches in a clear direction. We
followed him. The players were to follow us.
There was no paradox in this.
Where could he have learned how to lead, coach and teach by character in
all things? The Apostle Paul wrote-
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
