albanyherald
DAWSON Telvin Hodo didnt come to Terrell County hoping to build a respectable basketball team.
Respectable isnt the standard.
Around Dawson, the Greenwave have a history of competing for region championships and making postseason noise.
Hodo believes the pieces are already in place to return the program to that level.
His job now is convincing his players to believe it, too.
Were trying to bring back the tradition of winning at Terrell County, Hodo said.
We want to be fighting for region championships and competing for state titles.
After spending the past decade paying his dues as an assistant coach, Hodo finally gets his first opportunity to lead a varsity program.
He began his coaching career at Lithia Springs High School before spending the last several seasons at Hardaway High School in Columbus, coaching virtually every level of the game along the way.
Ive coached just about every level of basketball except varsity head coach, Hodo said.
This is an opportunity Ive been working toward.
He inherits a Greenwave team that finished 11-15 overall and 10-10 in region play last season, but Hodo sees something much different than a sub-.500 record.
He sees experience.
Terrell County graduated only two seniors, meaning nearly the entire roster returns with another year of varsity basketball under its belt.
Leading that group is Dominique Polite, whom Hodo believes has the talent to become one of southwest Georgias premier players.
I think he can be one of those guys who leads the right way, Hodo said.
I told him I believe he can earn Region Player of the Year if he keeps working.
Polite is one reason Hodo believes the Greenwave can contend immediately, but the first-year coach knows talent alone wont change the direction of the program.
Culture will.
Throughout June, Terrell Countys practices looked different than in years past as players adjusted to Hodos system, one built on accountability, communication and trusting one another.
Weve definitely gotten better at trusting each other this summer, Hodo said.
We are putting them into a system with full practices that, from what Im told, is different than what theyve had in the past.
The biggest sign that the buy-in is taking hold came during a summer game against neighboring Lee County.
The victory wont count in the standings, but Hodo believes it counted where it mattered most.
I know its just a summer game and it doesnt count, but for our guys it was nice, Hodo said.
They told me they hadnt beaten Lee County at anything in a while, so they were happy to get a win over Lee.
For Hodo, the celebration afterward revealed more than the final score.
What that tells me is that if we keep working together and play together, we can compete.
The balancing act now becomes preparing Terrell County to win immediately while continuing to develop the younger players who will sustain the program in future seasons.
Coaching at this level is challenging because you have the win now mentality while also working to develop the future, Hodo said.
It is a delicate balance.
Still, Hodo believes this years roster is capable of making a run.
Weve got some talented juniors and seniors, and I believe we can challenge for a region title, he said.
At the same time, Im working to develop these younger players as well.
That wont be easy in one of southwest Georgias toughest basketball regions, but Hodo embraces the challenge.
I am excited to be leading the charge for Terrell County boys basketball, he said.
We want to do what is necessary to compete in a very deep region.
Tough competition is ahead, but I believe we can compete and make some noise with buy-in from the guys and support from the community.
While wins and championships remain the ultimate goal, Hodo hopes his impact extends beyond the scoreboard.
I am blessed to have this opportunity to lead the Terrell County program, he said.
I look forward to bringing the tradition back through hard work and helping our kids get into college and be successful at the next level.
Summer victories wont appear in the record book, and optimism alone wont bring back the Greenwave tradition.
But after a month under Hodos leadership, Terrell County has taken the first step toward changing something more important than its record.
The Greenwave are beginning to expect more from themselves.
If that mindset continues to grow, Hodo believes the winsand perhaps a return to championship contentionwill follow.