With a 1-9 record last year, the Warriors season did not go as they had planned. Hoping to change that this upcoming season, the Warriors acquired a new head coach, Isaiah Perrin, who looks to bring more energy and success to the football program. Going into their first home game of the season, the Warriors hope to apply this energy and approach on the field.
Coming off of a 21-16 win against Socastee this past Friday, head coach Isaiah Perrin is looking to build off of this win and work on the flaws that were shown in this first game.
“Offensively, we have some things we need to work on; we were able to throw the ball pretty well… We needed to just run the ball a little bit better, so that’s a big point of emphasis this week. We got two rushing touchdowns, but we could do a better job upfront and we’re gonna work on that this week. Special teams played really well, so overall it was a great team effort in this win,” Perrin said.
Perrin sees the potential that Wando has to be successful. He knows Wando’s history over the past two decades and how they have been successful against
teams like Summerville and Stratford.
“The winning has been here; they’re able to win,” Perrin said.
Perrin said he believes that this new culture can do big things for Wando in the future, with this first year being the starting point.
“I think that if you really push … to establish this new culture, I think that you know that will do dividends down the line… this first year is for laying the groundwork, as the foundation, and to hear like [junior quarterback] Harris Stone talk about flipping the script and hear about seniors buying in and culture and how we’re trying to change it,” Perrin said.
With new and returning players stepping into important roles on the field, Stone has utilized Perrin’s culture to develop their relationship.
“Coach Perrin has definitely came in, he’s changed the culture, he’s doing the little things right, he’s showing us the little things we need to do to be successful., He’s a great guy overall nothing but great things for him and I’d say we have a really good connection,” Stone said.
Stone also looks to contribute to the culture change in the football program.
“For these next two years, I really want to change the culture around here, show everybody that we can win with what we have; there’s no doubt in my mind that we can’t have a winning season this year… really I just wanna flip the script this year, get everybody back into the football mindset at Wando,” Stone said.
Many other players look forward to representing this new culture and approach that Perrin has brought in. Senior cornerback Za’kye Coakley looks to adjust to Perrin’s new mindset and approach for what he wants the team to be.
“The team has adjusted very well, feeding into his ideas and what he wants the team to become… and building a culture around it,” Coakley said.
It is not only the players that
are adjusting to this new culture. Perrin has a strong coaching staff behind him, who trust and believe that he’s leading the Warriors in the right direction. One of these coaches is the linebackers’ coach Trey Nichols, who sees success in Wando’s future.
“Coach Perrin has brought in a sense of culture and unity among the staff and the players. We changed up our summer schedule this past season. We took the kids to Virginia for a college camp and a tour, 7-on-7, a pro day where we were running 40s and a lot of drill work,” Nichols said. “We did some college campus visits, toured some schools, talked to some coaches, just things like that; getting kids excited about football and playing at the next level.”