DUBLIN, Ga. — One member of the Dublin High School football team hit a major milestone with their win last Friday.
"He was not going to tell everybody," Dublin assistant coach Joel Ingram said. "I mean we all knew about him, but he was never going to make a big deal about himself he's always trying to move on to the next one."
With their 17-7 win over Northeast, head coach Roger Holmes hit 200 wins with the Fighting Irish.
"It was obviously one of those goals I guess that people said. I'm a goal-oriented type person," Holmes said.
It's goal that not many have reached. According to Georgia High School Football History, only 77 coaches have 200 or more wins in their career.
Holmes is in his 23rd season at Dublin, but he said things could have been different.
"There's been a couple of opportunities to have left Dublin but as it worked out I was able to stay here and it's been just a tremendous town to raise my family," Holmes said.
Dublin City Schools Superintendent Fred Williams was on the football staff in Holmes' first season.
"I remember when he first came to town and I met his mother and she said, 'Coach, take care of my boy,' and her boy has been taking care of this community ever since, turning out tremendous young men and that 200th win just speaks to all the young men who've labored and put the blood, sweat, and tears in the coaching staff and just his tremendous leadership for this program," Williams said.
Williams said he and Holmes are stuck together.
"I said, 'He can't leave unless I leave, and I can't leave unless he leaves' ... We're a packaged deal," Williams laughed.
Ingram said Holmes has a big impact on his coaches just as much as his players. Ingram was the head coach at Washington County but decided to take an assistant role under Holmes.
"Going to be an assistant somewhere for someone at the caliber of Holmes and growing was more important to me than going somewhere and just taking any head coaching job...I don't regret that one bit I think I've done nothing but grow," Ingram said.
Williams said Holmes is without a doubt a Dublin legend. During his time, Holmes has brought back multiple state titles and sent several players to play at the college level and some even in the pros.
However, he said he doesn't hang up pictures or have his achievements on the wall for good reason.
"If you're looking where you've been you can't focus on where you're trying to go. I'll retire one day before long and when I do we'll put all that stuff on a wall somewhere and we'll be able to look back," Holmes explained.
Holmes said he's enjoyed his experience on the sideline and doesn't think he would change it if he had the chance.
"I enjoy coaching football I tell people all the time I don't really know there was really anything else I was made to be able to do."