Coach Padriac McGinnis Takes on the Tall Task of Revitalizing Eisenhower Football

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Padriac McGinnis is a big man with a big plan. As the new head coach of Eisenhower High School football, he plans to revitalize the program that had been without a head coach months before his arrival in April. He has been working double time since setting foot on the Eisenhower campus. McGinnis joked that if he is not doing 100 things, he is doing 200, referring to making sure the players are ready for practice and other coaching duties, pausing to conduct the interview, but doing it with a lighthearted tone and a smile.  

Coach McGinnis returns to the district with 25 years of experience, having coached at Richwood High School in Louisiana, Bentonville High School in Arkansas, Hightower, Northshore, Yates, Heights High School, and also had a first stint coaching at Eisenhower. His experience comes with a championship pedigree —10 district championships, four Texas State Championship appearances, and a 2021 State Championship with North Shore High School. As a coach who has been a part of successful programs, the first thing he wanted to do was build player and community morale, which he emphasized at the district’s media day.  

McGinnis acknowledged the challenges he has experienced since taking over in the spring. but expressed that he is rebuilding with a good group of student-athletes.

 “It’s been hard, but the thing is, you know, kids wanna play football,” McGinnis said.

“It’s a sport, and kids want to come play. The first day I walked in, there were about 19 kids. We have  about 70 kids, and more are coming every day. The best thing we did when we came in was to get with the Little League teams, so they can learn our program, learn our brand of football, and see what we’re doing. Everybody talks about what Ike was, the history of the program; we want to bring that back. We also partnered with a lot of alumni who have come back to instill the knowledge of what the program used to be.”

McGinnis spoke glowingly of the senior class that decided to stay at Ike during the transition period. He appreciates these “special nine,” as he calls them, who continued to represent Big Ike – emphasizing that the power is not in numbers but in heart and leadership. 

“Those guys have been great leaders,” McGinnis said. “They stuck it out, they waited the process, they got size and athleticism, and they got the grades! Because of tradition and their pride in Big Ike, they want to be SWOOP. They’ve taken everything in stride, showing the new guys why we’re doing it this way, following the lead of coach Mac and his coaching. They’ve been exceptional at being leaders.” 

Ike’s senior class is led by wide receivers Jason Washington, whom he compares to NFL great Odell Beckham,and Malachi Gatson. Defensive back Braylen South, linebackers Braylon Alvis and Marcus Potts, defensive tackle Isaiah Jackson, and quarterback Eugene “EJ” Durst Jr. are on the coach’s “must watch” list. His goal was clear— competing for the fourth spot in the district. 

He emphasized the talent in the junior class. One standout player is offensive lineman Sedrick Steptoe, who serves as an anchor for the team. McGinnis described him as a big-time player who is poised to become a Division 1 athlete and make Ike proud. Additionally, speedy running back Elijiah Dixon earned the nickname “Lightning” from the coach due to his impressive 98-yard touchdown run during the 2024 season that popped off the screen during a film session. 

He takes pride in his underclass. With his goal of securing the fourth seed in district play, which will guarantee a playoff berth, he takes pride in trusting his coaching staff. 

Rebuilding also breeds new expectations, which is nothing Coach McGinnis has shied away from. He and his coaching staff come to Eisenhower with more than 200 years of coaching experience. One big addition is Coach McGinnis’ former coach, Chris McClanahan, who served as offensive coordinator during his time at Hightower. McGinnis bragged about McClanahan’s ability to have a firepower offense and his development of players. Given that Ike’s roster is primarily underclassmen, and with an average of 18.4 points per game in 2024, his addition is imperative to getting this program where the new leadership is aiming to take it. 

McGinnis continued to highlight his coaching staff when he mentioned his defensive coordinator, Coach Robert Toomer, calling him knowledgeable and a great motivator. Coach Toomer will be going into the Georgia Football Hall of Fame this fall. He is proud to have a perfect blend of younger and experienced coaches, setting themselves up to be relatable to their players while also having the command to develop them into top-tier student-athletes. 

With the new coaching staff in place, McGinnis states that his philosophy, despite being likened to a dinosaur, is straightforward: run the ball.

“I will run the ball, I will run the ball. We will play smash-mouth football and control the clock. I know I have to keep the skill players—receivers and tight ends—happy. I tell them, ‘If we throw the ball and you don’t block, we’ll go back to running it,’” he said, jokingly but with a serious tone.

McGinnis doesn’t believe in coincidences; he feels that he was brought to Ike for a reason. In his youth, he faced significant adversity, which he overcame with his second love: football. His background includes working at McDonald’s at a young age to help support his family, especially his little brother. 

“If I can make it through that, then I can show kids that they can overcome anything,” he said. “Get an education, don’t cheat the system; you can earn it.”

He is no stranger to opportunities. He says he is excited to get started and to get to work. His message to the Eisenhower and Acres Homes community is simple: Ike will be fast and physical. 

“I want to bring back that fear in that black and gold,” McGinnis said. “That mentality of when I get off the bus with the boys from the ’44’—the neighborhood name for Acres Homes—fast and physical”