Newton County Academy has its next head football coach.
Arnie Oakes was introduced to the school on Thursday night at a reception for parents and players. Oakes comes to NCA after coaching the last two years at Scott Central. Oakes replaces long-time coach Rob Roberts who owns the school record for wins and helped guide the Generals to a state championship in 2014.
NCA headmaster Mike Tucker said Oakes was a pretty clear choice for the job.
“The board interviewed several people and the fact that he has been at several places in football and has taught in some of the most successful schools around for year kind of swayed the vote,” Tucker said. “He talked really cordial to them and showed a lot of interest in our school and the kids in our school. I think he will be an asset to us. He knows what he’s doing in the weight room. You have to do it in the right way and we are looking forward to that.”
Oakes comes to NCA with a ton of experience with public school stops at South Panola, Winona, Natchez and Scott Central. Oakes was at South Panola for 16 years. But Oakes started his career in the private school ranks with head coaching stops at Marshall Academy, Oak Hill Academy, DeSoto School in Arkansas and Rebul Academy.
“I feel like I know what it takes to develop a winning program,” Oakes said. "I feel fortunate that I have been given the opportunity to be in charge of that here. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I am a classroom teacher as well. I put forth the same effort in the classroom that I do on the football field. It’s a lot of dedication and hard work.
Oakes stressed on one than more occasion that he will be a big proponent of the weight room.
“I’m a firm believer that all of it starts in the weight room,” Oakes said. “Now a days, if you aren’t a part of that, it’s really hard to compete. Every now and then you might have somebody who is gifted enough that you can survive but in the long haul, the weight room is where it is at. I’ve been fortunate to be part of that.”
Oakes said he enjoys working with young kids and knows that not every player is handled the same way.
“I love football and love working with young people,” Oakes said. “I pride myself on being able to learn those people individually. Even though we play team sports, Every body is a different individual and you have to handle them different at times. Some of them, you can get onto and others you have to call in. I pride myself in that.”
Oakes, who also teaches in the classroom, said he will finish out the spring semester at Scott Central but will be able to leave after lunch most days and come to NCA to be in the weight room.
“You can do a tremendous amount in there that will help you on the football field,” Oakes said. “If you aren’t in there, it’s hard to compete on the playoff level. If I can instill the work ethic in the weight room, I think we can compete. And if we can get some more kids out and get our numbers up, that will help tremendously. I think we can gradually start winning that success will breed success. Everybody wants to be part of a winning program. We have to get these kids out and get them to buy into the program.”
On the field, Oakes said he hopes to be physical on both sides of the football.
“I like to hang my hat on being able to run the football and being able to throw when you want to,” Oakes said. “I like to mix it in and like play-action pass and give the quarterback a chance to run if nothing is there. The caliber of football I have been around, assistant coaches have a lot of responsibility there. I feel like I am well prepared. I know the mistakes I have made in the past as a head coach and can come back from that and do the things that are right.”
Oakes is a Kosciusko native who graduated from East Holmes Academy.
