LINDEN &8212; After taking over as the athletic director and head football coach at Linden High School last week, Andro Williams has slowly began implementing changes in the program he hopes to build into a power of the region.

From reorganizing the weight room at the athletic building at George P. Austin Junior High School to looking at the team&8217;s talent, Williams has begun what he calls a gradual shift toward the program he wants at the school. And, he said, the players and community have seemed to embrace the changes he is trying to instill in the program.

Hungry for what Williams&8217; background, coaching at powerhouse Sweet Water High School, could produce for the football program at Linden. This hunger is something that can be satiated, as Williams noted that even during his time coaching at Sweet Water down the road he was aware of the talent Linden produces in its football program

Williams said the players he has inherited aren&8217;t oblivious to their talent either. He said he is sure the group has high expectations of the program under his lead, as last year&8217;s 7-3 season was one of the worst records he could find in recent years for the school. He also noted that the group has 22 returning juniors and seniors for the upcoming season, some of who played on the Linden squad that went to the third round of the playoffs three years ago.

As Williams steps into his new role, he said the team appears to have respect for him and they have adjusted well to the changes he has made thus far. He said the respect for him is likely an offshoot of the program he comes from to take the position.

Of course the Linden Patriots have reason to respect the Sweet Water Bulldog program, which Williams has served as the defensive coordinator for the past five years and received two state championship rings. The season prior to the arrival of Sweet Water head coach, Stacy Luker, and, at the same time, Williams, Linden beat the Bulldogs handily. Since, the Bulldogs have gone undefeated in the match up, and in the past three years Sweet Water has beaten Linden by a combined score of 111-6.

Williams has come up through the years through the Sweet Water program, first as a player when Luker was the defensive coordinator, and then during his five years coaching after a year stint at Clarke County High School. Williams attributes a lot of his coaching style to his time with Luker, who was the state coach of the year last year.

Williams said he will run his offense and defense in Linden a lot like what he saw at Sweet Water. He said the offense will likely revolve around the Wing T and Power I schemes and the defense will run off a 3-4 look that &8220;is a mixture of what we were doing last year,&8221; at Sweet Water.

Another Sweet Water influence on the Linden squad is Cecil Wallace, who is the new defensive coordinator, after coaching the defensive line at Sweet Water, and will teach science at the high school. John Terrell is another new coach, who will teach social studies at the high school and will serve as the utilities coach at his first coaching position. Williams said he will retain volunteer Johnny Ford from the previous staff to coach defensive backs and receivers.