PUTNAM COUNTY
Joel Harvin is familiar with the program and culture built by retired Putnam County head coach Shaun Pope.
Early County, the program Harvin coached at the time, traveled to Eatonton in 2020 to face the higher-seeded War Eagles for a first-round playoff game at Al Reaves Field.
His Bobcats defeated Putnam County 48-7 and moved on to the next round. Now, nearly three years later, Harvin will return to Eatonton, but this time as the new head coach of the War Eagles.
“I’ve kept up with Putnam because we played three years ago in the playoffs,” Harvin said. “We were fortunate enough to win that game, but I just was always taken back when I looked up in the stands and saw all of the people there. So, obviously, they’ve got a lot of support.”
Success as a Bobcat
Harvin spent the last six seasons as head coach at Early County, which is also his alma mater. He played football for the Bobcats and led them to a region championship in 2003.
Harvin again led Early County to another region title in 2022, but this time as head coach.“I just finished my sixth year at Early County,” Harvin said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”
The Blakely native competed under head coach Trey Woolf, whom he replaced in 2017. Woolf coached Harvin when ECHS made it to the Class AA semifinals in 2002 before falling to Greater Atlanta Christian. The Bobcats then returned to the postseason in 2003 after capturing a region championship but lost to Decatur 28-21 in the state quarterfinals.
As a coach, Harvin spent seven years at Northview High School in Dothan, Ala., before returning to the Bobcats. He served as a coach in several capacities during his time across the state’s border.
Harvin was only 33-32 overall as a head coach in six seasons at Early County. However, he was able to change the culture of the Bobcats’ program for the better while at the helm. Harvin led them to five consecutive postseason appearances, which had never been done there before.
Also, the last time Early County won a region title before 2022 was almost two decades prior when Harvin was the starting quarterback. He was able to break that 19-year drought and led the Bobcats to bring the Region 1A-Divison II championship back to Blakely this past year.
“Making the playoffs five years in a row here is a school record,” Harvin said. “That’s never been done before in Early County’s history, so I’m proud of that. I’ve also had many kids sign to play (at the collegiate level) through the years while I have been the head coach.”
Ready for new obstacles
Now, after spending most of his life in South Georgia, Harvin said he’s ready to take on a new challenge with Putnam County, and he’s followed the program since that 2020 matchup with Early County.
“I’m excited about Putnam, (especially) with the way they’re committed to making the football program one of the best in the state. A lot of things stood out about Putnam County High School that made me want to go there and be a part of it,” Harvin said.
“The administration is great, and they’ve shown that they obviously care a lot about football. They want to do everything they can to make that program better, so I am ready to be up there.”
Harvin also developed a relationship with former head coach Pope, who retired in December. The two coaches would talk at recruiting fairs and in the offseason about football.
“I just remember how many athletes they had, as well as how many people were there for just a first-round game,” Harvin said. “All that stuck with me and I have kept up with them since the three years (Early County) played them, and I know that Fitzgerald is their arch-enemy right now.”
Common ground
Fitzgerald has eliminated the War Eagles from the Class AA playoffs for the past two years.
The Purple Hurricanes went on to win the state championship in 2021 and made it back to the title game last season, although they fell to Putnam County’s region rival Thomson in December.
Early County faced Fitzgerald five times from 2017-21 when Harvin was the head coach in Blakely, and the Bobcats went 0-5 during the timespan, so he knows the War Eagles’ pain.
“Being in a region with Fitzgerald for five years, I understand the animosity they might have right now toward Fitzgerald, especially because I have it as well,” Harvin said. “I really do.”
When the job came open in December, Harvin thought it would be a “good fit” for his family.
“I have three young kids under the age of seven that I worry about them, too. My wife is a teacher as well,” Harvin said. “So, we looked at the school system and we both thought it would be a good fit for our kids and for us to work. Obviously, the commitment to football is big and the success they’ve had in the past few seasons (also) jumped out to me. So, I think it’s possibly one of the best jobs in the state and that’s why I applied for it.”
Maintaining the culture, but adding a ‘twist’
Harvin hopes to continue building on the success Pope enjoyed, while also putting his print on the program. He’s already witnessed how physical the War Eagles are, even way back in 2020.
“What we’ve prided ourselves on here at Early County is being the most physical team on the field, and I would like for everyone that plays us to know that at the end of the game,” Harvin said. “That all starts in the weight room and I think Putnam’s done a great job of that. I’ve seen the videos they’ve posted (on social media). I think that the talent is there. Coach Pope and his staff have done a great job of all of that (for the past few years).
“My mindset is, ‘If ain’t broke, you don’t fix it.’ If I can kind of twist it a little bit and put my thumbprint and my identity on it, I think we can get over the hump and make a deep run in the playoffs. That’s my goal,” Harvin added.
“I know the kids there, they’re physical. I mean, I coached against them (during the 2020 season). I would like to bring some of this South Georgia mentality with me and hope it rubs off on them. As I said, those coaches there have done a great job. I’m just excited to be a part of the program.”
Harvin hopes to be in Eatonton by the time spring ball starts in a few months.