Beginning of an era: Colquitt County’s newest coaching hires plan to elevate Packer Soccer

Head Coaches Colby Simpson (boys) and Carlos Bautista (girls) discuss their vision for Packer Soccer

MOULTRIE, GA- Back in May, Packer Athletics announced the hiring of their new head coaches for both the boys’ and girls’ soccer programs. Despite their new positions, neither coach is new to the Colquitt County scene.

“It didn’t take long to know how important this was to our kids and how important this hire was going to be,” said Packer Athletic Director, Cleve Edwards. “The main things you look for is character, leadership, how coaches are going to lead our kids and we think we are going to get that out of Coach Simpson and Coach Bautista.”

Colby Simpson was head coach for the girls before replacing former boys head coach, Jimbo Jarvis who retired from the program after over 25 years.

“This has kind of been a life goal for me to take over the boy’s program,” said Simpson. “Coach Jarvis has developed a really, really strong foundation for the program and has does a very great job establishing the goals, morals and values for the boys program. I look to continue those things and tradition, it’s something that’s very important here in Colquitt County. I’ll have a few adjustments throughout the year but for the most part, communication is very important. As long as we communicate and the boys understand my moral, my values and my vision for the program, we will have a season and a great year,” Simpson said.

Although it is a bittersweet departure from his girls, Simpson believes the program is in great hands with his former assistant and JV coach, Carlos Bautista.

“If I could start the season now, I’d go ahead and start it now. You know, I want to see these girls play. I feel like for me it’s been a long time coming. Ever since I played in middle school and high school i’ve always thought “man, I’d love to come back and coach.” So, for me, being able to come back and be able to coach in that county that’s been able to see me grow and has supported me, you know, it’s just really good.” said Carlos Bautista, Lady Packer Soccer head coach.

Bautista says it’s been a transition, but his time as an assistant has prepared him to take on the new role.

“You know, coming from behind Colby, him and I are good friends, we have known each other a long time and he is a phenomenal soccer coach. That being said, every coach wants to do things their own way. As an assistant coach, there are things that you see in the games during the season that went by that you realize “okay, this is what I would’ve done differently.”

As a former Packer himself, he plans to dedicate himself to is girls and community in order to move the program forward.

“I want to focus a lot on college looks. I want to focus a lot on our younger girls making the varsity team and JV team earlier. For the entire program, I want to bring the community back out. It’s no secret that the girl’s program has been struggling a little bit. But hat I want to do is have the community behind us, have the girls behind us, and have them come out to all of our games,” Bautista said.

The Lady Packers will host Thomas County Central July 19th at Packer Park and starting July 17th, the boy’s program will be hosting a soccer showcase for 6th-12th grade teams.