GHSA Class 5A championship, Cartersville vs. Warner Robins: Head coaches Foster and Westbrook share youth, but different resumes to title game

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Conor Foster and Marquis Westbrook have a few things in common as head coaches.

          One is that they lead programs of remarkable success and stability.

          Cartersville had three head coaches from

          Warner Robins has had a little more activity, but not much. Save for one still-talked-about year in 2003 when Robby Pruitt took a year off from Fitzgerald, and Mike Chastain’s short visit, the Demons don’t change much.

          In that same 33-year span, Warner Robins has had Robert Davis (promoted), Richard Fendley (promoted), Pruitt, Bryan Way (promoted), Chastain, and Westbrook (promoted).

          Foster is 24-2 in two years, Westbrook is 25-3 in two years.

Conor Foster, Cartersville

          The fourth head coach in more than 30 years at Cartersville history assisted the program’s third head coach – twice - and played for its program leader win wins and longevity.

          Foster grew up in Cartersville, graduated from Cartersville, and has worked at only two other places.

          He started working with co-assistant Joey King at Carrollton and joined him in the move in 2014 to Cartersville, serving again as defensive coordinator when King became head coach.

          King went 67-4 in five seasons, winning five region and two state titles, before leaving for Coastal Carolina as an assistant. He replaced Frank Barden, who was 154-58-1 in 18 years, with seven region titles and a state championship.

          The member of Cartersville’s 1999 15-0 state title team graduated from Georgia, also adding degrees from Troy and Valdosta State. His coaching career started at Apalachee before heading to Carrollton in 2013.

          Former Mary Persons and Peach County head coach Rodney Walker spent 1985 at Cartersville, and the Canes found stability after he left following a 4-6-1 season.

          Mike Earwood coached from 1986-95 with no losing seasons, and Barden went from 1996-2013 with two 5-5 seasons and three sub-.500 years.

          King had the absurd record that included two perfect seasons, setting the table for Foster.

          The Canes lost last year 31-28 to Woodward in the quarterfinals.

Marquis Westbrook, Warner Robins

          The 40-year-old has a few years on his Cartersville counterpart, as well as experiences as a major high school player and SEC defensive back.

          The Crisp County grad played quarterback and defensive back for the Cougars, earning a variety of all-state honors as a 5-9, 175-pounder. He ran for 485 yards and passed for 920 as a senior to go with 103 tackles and four interceptions.

          He went on to play in 44 games at Florida, playing in every game in two seasons and in the Citrus, Sugar, and Orange Bowls.

          His coaching career didn’t start right away when the NFL decided it wasn’t interested in a 5-9, 175-pounder. He sold insurance, and then worked at Turner Job Corps in Albany for a few years.

          TJC has grown more into a career center and technical school, but it was a little less academic two decades ago.

          “It was really humbling,” Westbrook said. “A really humbling experience, brother.”

          Initially a recreation counselor before moving into the classroom, Westbrook dealt with teen-agers who had been set there for a variety of reasons.

          “A lot of those kids were there for things that were out of their control, or bad decisions. But they were really good kids and they were trying to turn their lives around.”

          Westbrook walks the hall at Warner Robins knowing he sees some kids who might be on the same ill-advised path.

          “I just try to make sure I offer them the best advice I possible can and try to steer them in the right direction,” he said. “I thank God for that experience.”

          But he was happy to start his coaching career at Macon County under Henry Lester. Westbrook joined David Bruce’s staff at Veterans in 2011, moving to Warner Robins in 2016 around the same time Nick Brooks – now at Howard – went from Warner Robins to Veterans.

          Westbrook was the Demons’ defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator for three years before getting the promotion at the end of April in 2019.

          Among the records after two years of some of his predecessors: Robert Davis, 19-2; Richard Fendley 17-6; Brian Way, 23-2-1.