“I have received so many Facebook posts”, said Heidi Hepler just after our interview with her husband Frank, “that it’ll take me til Thanksgiving to reply to them all.” Mrs. Hepler was referring to the mountain of Facebook comments she and her husband have received congratulating him on his 25th season as a head football coach.
Frank Hepler is the head football coach at Forsyth Central High School, the original school in Forsyth County and now, with the other four county high schools, a member of Class AAAAAAA’s Region 5. Coach Hep has graciously delivered a fabulous interview here on our site, laying out the challenges of the upcoming season for his Bulldogs in his second year as Head Coach. You’ll find the two part interview below. But first, a bit of background.
Coach Hepler played his high school football at legendary South Florida school Plantation High, mixing it up with other big school legends in the area, like Miami Northwestern, Miramar and West Broward. He played college ball at Catawba College in North Carolina, and soon returned to Plantation to begin his coaching career. In 2008 he opened West Forsyth as head football coach and regularly had the Wolverines in the playoffs. Former quarterback AJ Erdely is expected to be the starting QB for UAB as the Blazers renewed program takes the fields this fall. Family concerns led him back to the Sunshine State for a spell, but upon resolution, and still owning his home here, he returned to take the reins at FCHS in 2016. His wife Heidi continues in her role as Chief-of-Staff/Biggest fan.
Enjoy our exclusive interview with Coach Hep. It started like this:
Timing is indeed everything. The two parter begins below. But not before a few photos provided by the aforementioned Mrs. Chief-of-Staff.
- God and Family 2. School 3. Football. Coach Hepler’s priorities are clearly in order.
Above, Frank and Heidi Hepler, Coach Hep and son Frankie a little while ago.
Coach Hep and grandson Mylo. Kinda deja vu-ish, huh?
Photos credit Forsyth Sports 365 and The Heplers
Forsyth Central Coach Frank Hepler Part 1
Forsyth Central Coach Frank Hepler Part 2
BTW, many thanks to FCHS AD Dan Kaplan for his continued support of our program. He has promised us an interview as soon as the marathon of meetings and memos to open the school year subsides. See you soon Kap.