Ballard comes to the Warriors from Peachtree Ridge High School in Region 7-AAAAA, where his 2008 Lions team finished as state runner-up. Ballard owns a career record of 89-22, reaching the state playoffs seven of nine seasons and having also coached at Tucker.
The new Warriors coach feels the White County program is a place where he can build on recent successes.
"I just look at it as a challenge," Ballard said. "As far as building a perennial playoff challenger here, I certainly think it's got the potential for that."
Ballard takes over from Tommy Flowers, who acted as interim head coach for much of the 2010 campaign after Gregg Segraves stepped down from the position early in the season. Flowers has said he will stay on staff with the Warriors after leading the team to its first ever state playoff win last year.
White County defeated LaGrange 28-20 in the first round of the Class AAA postseason in 2010, going 9-3 after finishing second in Region 8-AAA. The team relied on a strong class of 14 seniors that featured running back/safety and University of Kentucky signee Ashely Lowery.
Ballard was approved by the White County school board late Thursday. The board also approved naming Beth Kimsey as head softball coach. Kimsey has been an assistant on the team and also coaches girls golf at the school.
"I hope we can be successful. We're going to work hard, I can promise you that," Ballard said. "And we'll put a good product on the field. Football's the ultimate team sport, and if you can get the guys to come together as a team, you can beat good players with a team any day of the week."
-- Dean Dyer contributed to this report.
Bill Ballard / photo: Dean Dyer
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/3/237374