Red Clay Soccer Report: Three Programs, Three Perspectives, One Georgia Soccer Conversation
- Jason Longshore
- 40 minutes ago
- 1 min read
This week’s Red Clay Soccer Report is a coach-to-coach masterclass in what sustains winning programs in Georgia high school soccer—and what’s changing underneath the surface as schedules tighten, region play ramps up, and the new PSR reality reshapes how teams pick opponents.
Host Jon Nelson catches up with three of the state’s standard-bearers:
Molly McCarty (Jefferson girls) breaks down a gritty win over Johnson, what she learned from it, and why her program calls substitutes “sustainers”—the players who keep the fire going when the game shifts.
Dr. Mike Tolmich (Brookwood) talks about scheduling to prepare for the playoffs, embracing tough non-region matches, and the balancing act of coaching, teaching, and the sport’s growth in Georgia.
Matt Cheaves (Dalton) reflects on building a nationally recognized program, coaching evolution, and the habits that keep standards high year after year, while sitting one win away from 500 for his career.
And yes: there’s a moment you’ll want to hear where Jefferson and Brookwood start talking about playing each other next season, the kind of “matchmaker” moment that only happens when the coaches are speaking openly.
Watch and listen to the full episode on SDH Network platforms, and keep it bookmarked as we head deeper into region play and the heart of the spring schedule.
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