Jerry Albright promoted to Head Coach at Central High School

Tagged under: Coaches Corner, District 6, News

Baron Dionis | March 19, 2024

The Central Dragon football team has officially appointed Jerry Albright as head football coach after a school board vote Monday evening.

The Albright name has been a familiar name in this community for many years. Jerry’s sons, Thad and Brady, were both starters on the Scarlet Dragon team. Brady started for two years at the center position on the offensive line in 2022 and 2023. Thad played corner back and wide receiver for the Dragons in 2017 and 2018 before playing for Saint Francis. In fact, Coach Albright also played for Central for multiple years before graduating in 1991.

Brady Albright (left) hugs his father/coach Jerry Albright after clinching the LHAC Championship win. Photo via Bakers Photo Bench

Albright has a very long history of coaching in Martinsburg, 28 total years as a coach. Before being the successor to Dave Baker, he coached many age groups of football ranging from youth to varsity. He most recently was the Dragons lineman coach for both offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

Being able to coach at the school you played for is very special and to Coach Albright it means a ton.

“I bleed scarlet and grey. I’ve been a part of this program as a player and as an assistant,” said Albright, who graduated from Central in 1991 and won a district six championship, as a player, in 1990. “I did not have much affiliation with any other program in the area and this program means everything to me. I want to see this program succeed, I want the tradition to continue, and I want kids to have success on and off the field.”

Central has had recent success after winning four consecutive district six championships and making it to the 3A state semi-finals in 2021 and 2022. Coach Albright believes that the entire coaching staff can help continue this success that the Dragons have had.

Albright stated, “I am hoping to maintain the current staff that we already have; Coach (AJ) Hoenstine running the offense, Coach (Joey) Kitt running the defense, and Coach (Paul) Fredrick helping out on offense and defense. I am going to take more of a role on the special teams, but we are keeping the staff in place so there won’t be a whole lot of vital changes with a new head coach.”

Last season, the Scarlet Dragons had 20 seniors on their roster, who led the Dragons to their fourth consecutive district six title, in a row, and to the state quarterfinal round. Those seniors included five starting offensive linemen, which is difficult to replace, but through hard work, the underclassman from the 2023 roster, can fill in these shoes and replace this big senior class.

When asked how the team will replace a big senior class, Albright stated, “With a lot of hard work. Upfront (on the offensive line) is our biggest challenge as there has been little amount of experience on both sides of the ball. Getting these guys up to the level of play will be crucial because linemen dictate everything even when you have the greatest quarterback or greatest running back. These players can’t do anything without a line in front of them. Getting those guys reps in the off-season is on their shoulders and they need to take the initiative to work hard and run with it.”

Head Coach Jerry Albright will coach his first game as the leader of the Central Dragons at home this year against the Bellefonte Red Raiders.

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