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Grace Christian Academy announced Friday that Richard McClure is taking over head coaching duties for the football team. GCA’s Superintendent Sean Johnson said McClure is a perfect fit.

“He’s what we want in a coach and for the program specifically,” Johnson said. “We talked about expectations and what our goals were for the next head coach, and we realized he fits the mold perfectly.”

McClure is “well involved” with the school and was an assistant coach for the football team since the program started in the fall of 2020. When he heard the football team was looking for a new coach, he showed interest. 

“When Grace said they had a need, I put myself out there as available,” McClure said. “They ended up saying, ‘Hey, we need your help.’” 

McClure said it wasn’t a tough decision. Johnson asked him to step up as the head coach when he and McClure were “just talking.” 

“[Johnson] and I talk a lot,” McClure said. “I think it was a Wednesday night… he was like, ‘Hey, I think we need you, if you’re willing, to step up and step in for us and do this role.”

McClure played football in high school and is a self-proclaimed “student of the game.” 

“This is something I have a passion for,” McClure said. “I love the game of football, and I love coaching.”

McClure held an interest meeting Monday night, talking with prospective players and their families. He said the team is “behind the gun” and is working to grow the team. He said the meeting was about setting expectations and “firing up” his squad for the season.

The team held its first practice Tuesday morning. McClure ran a light 7 a.m. practice consisting of conditioning drills, and NFL combine measurement drills such as the 40-yard dash and the shuttle drill. He said out-conditioning the opponents will be a cornerstone piece of the team’s game plan this season. 

“At small schools,  you’re typically limited on your numbers,” McClure said. “You’re always going to be outnumbered. You’ll maybe have people that are bigger than you. The one thing that we can do as a football team is we can outwork and be better conditioned than anybody.”