Gatewood recently announced its new girls’ head basketball coach in the promotion of assistant coach Ferdinand Farley Jr.
Farley replaces Jordan Walters, who recently stepped down after serving as head coach for the past six seasons. For the past two seasons, Farley helped coach the Lady Gators under Walters.
Farley recently spoke with The Eatonton Messenger and said he was thankful for the promotion.
“I am very appreciative of this opportunity,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be a high school head coach, so I am very blessed and thank God for this chance. I’ve been here the past two years and learned a lot.”
Farley has high expectations for the Gatewood program in his first season. He’s ready to hit the ground running in June, with plans already in place for his players to attend a few camps and play a summer schedule full of games.
Gatewood’s girls return several key pieces from last season’s team, which excites the first-year head coach.
“I just want to get in the gym. I am excited because we’ve got a lot of girls returning,” Farley said. “We’re going to get in that gym and work hard. Hopefully, the girls and parents will buy in so we can turn this into something special in the first year or two. We have one senior coming back, so we’re going to be young, but I think we have a good mixture of rising, sophomores and freshmen. It will give us a chance to build together.”
Farley wants to hold his players accountable and hopes they can buy into his process. He said he wants them to show up consistently, train hard in the weight room and practice, and work relentlessly on improving their craft.
Farley also wants his players to “love the game” and dedicate themselves to improving both on and off the court.
“I want them to understand that it’s going to be hard and that they have to earn it,” Farley said, “I want them to understand they’ve just got to love the game and put time into it. Learn and try to get better. That’s it.”
Farley has already enjoyed a successful career as an assistant for 15 years within the Baldwin and Putnam county school systems, helping several teams to win championships along the way.
He said he appreciates Walters and athletic director Troy Burner asking him to be the new head coach for the Lady Gators.
“They asked and I knew I would love it. I’ve been coaching for a long time and this has been one of my dreams,” Farley said. “I want to be involved as much as I can and get Gatewood girls’ basketball back on top.”