Joe Davidyock relishes opportunity as new R.J. Reynolds football coach
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA--Joe Davidyock has hit the ground running since being named the new head football coach at Reynolds.
The 26-year-old Davidyock has infused his energy into a program that has struggled to find wins in the stacked Central Piedmont 4-A Conference the last several seasons, a challenge that the first-time head coach is embracing.
“My wife and I happened to be driving around this area last year when we saw the gym and I was just intrigued by the school and I knew it could be successful,” Davidyock said. “I just see it as a great opportunity, and I am grateful that I get the opportunity to put my stamp on it and see where we can take things.”
Davidyock comes to Reynolds after spending three seasons as an assistant at Mallard Creek in Charlotte under Kennedy Tinsley, first as the receivers coach, then as the recruiting coordinator and JV offensive coordinator, JV head coach, and as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last season for the Mavericks, who reached the second round of the NCHSAA 4-A playoffs.
Before Mallard Creek, Davidyock spent two seasons as the quarterbacks coach at Southeast Guilford under Tinsley in 2018—when the Falcons were the 3-AA state runners-up-- and 2019.
He was also the quarterbacks coach at Bishop McGuinness under Drew Hackett for one season in 2017.
Davidyock grew up in Toms River, New Jersey, where he played football and wrestled at Toms River East. He was the captain of the football team his senior season and made his way to Greensboro after he graduated with the intention of playing college football at Greensboro College.
“I was a little too hard-headed to understand all the financial aid involved of playing football at Greensboro College,” Davidyock said with a laugh. “But fortunately, I found a great opportunity to start coaching football, which is something I knew I wanted to do since my high school days, when I saw that UNCG was looking for help coaching its club football team.”
Davidyock landed a position as UNCG’s manager and quality control coach.
“Through a series of departures, I eventually ended up as the team’s offensive coordinator,” Davidyock said with a laugh. “I moved up the food chain pretty quick. I was 18 years old and most of the players were older than me. But it was a great experience. We got to play against Ohio State’s club team and against UNC. I learned a lot and it really just solidified my belief that coaching was something that I wanted to do.”
R.J. Reynolds will be the first head coaching job for 26-year-old Joe Davidyock
Submitted by Joe Davidyock
Davidyock praised his experience with Tinsley at Southeast Guilford and Mallard Creek as crucial in his development.
“Without question he showed me the way,” Davidyock said. “I was very blessed to be around him and the other coaches we had. Some of them played for high Division I college teams. Some played in the NFL and in the Canadian Football League. I wouldn’t be where I am without my time with him and I’m very appreciative of everything he has done for me.”
Davidyock is taking his new job and new responsibilities as a first-time head coach in stride.
He has spent most of his time getting to know his new players and developing those relationships with them, a process he has prioritized since Day 1 with workouts and weight-lifting sessions.
“We’ve got a good buzz going around right now,” Davidyock said. “We are very process driven. They know we have to work out, we have to be together, and we have to be pouring into each other and get to know each other. That’s the biggest thing right now.
I tell them that these six months of preparation are more important than the three months that we are going to play because it will set the tone. I’m really proud of what they have been able to take care of so far. I’m in the weight room all day as a teacher, so I get to see these guys a lot. That’s been easy so far to help build those relationships. We get after it, and I keep it light and fun. They want to be coached. They’ve done a great job attacking everything we’ve thrown at them. The best teams are always player-led. We’re leaning on them now, especially our returning players, to police each other. They make sure everyone is coming to workouts, make sure they are all hitting the books. We just want to keep everyone on track and keep the positive buzz going.”
Davidyock’s spring practices will begin May 15 and he has a full slate of 7 on 7s over the summer lined up as the Demons get ready for another challenging schedule in the stacked Central Piedmont 4-A Conference.
“I come from a really good league in Charlotte, the Queen City 4-A, where you have a Chambers, you have a Hough, who are always some of the top teams in the state. There’s some really good ball there, really good coaches.” Davidyock said. “And I know the same can be said for the CPC. You’ve got East Forsyth, you’ve got West Forsyth, you’ve got Reagan, you’ve got Davie. It’s a stacked league for sure. Great coaches. Great players. And we can be like those programs too. Reynolds really reminds me a lot of what Southeast was like during my time there. You know you’ve got the kids in the building, and you just have to go out and find them, then nurture that relationship and take them in a specific direction and put them in the best position to be successful. I know we can do that here.”
Davidyock has spent plenty of time hiring experienced assistants, many of whom have been head coaches themselves, in order to surround himself with great football minds and also who are great people.
“I know that the only way I can be successful is to put great people around me,” Davidyock said. I wanted to find some guys who are former head coaches to help me out and be a sounding board for the decisions I will have to make. I want to have that give and take with them. That’s really important to me and for these kids. They have shown a great passion and energy with instilling the vision I have for this program.”
Davidyock spent the past three seasons as an assistant at Mallard Creek and two seasons as an assistant at Southeast Guilford.
Submitted by Joe Davidyock
Davidyock is succeeding Pat Crowley, who resigned last November after eight seasons as the Demons’ coach.
“He is a great man who cared a lot about this program,” Davidyock said of Crowley. “We talked for more than an hour when I got the job, and he shared me with some things to make me more familiar. I can’t say enough about what he has done since I took the job. He’ll still be around the program as his son is still playing this season.”
Despite the whirlwind of getting his processes and standards in place for the program, Davidyock and his wife, Rebecca, whom he met in Greensboro, said that they have felt embraced by the Reynolds community.
“We have felt so welcomed by everyone,” Davidyock. “It has just cemented the decision to come here. We knew we wanted to get back closer to her family in Greensboro, but just feeling how everyone here has been so gracious and supportive really makes me that much more appreciative that I have this opportunity.”
