[Sly Fox]

This would explain how Landis & Cheek (and his son for about 15 minutes) landed at LU from Dacula, GA:

Getting to Know ... David Machovec
08/25/2006

David Machovec, 49, is in his third year as an assistant football/strength and conditioning coach at Dacula High School. In the last two years he has had a son (Israel) and a daughter (Eve) win state championships in track and field throwing events.
In this latest installment of "Getting to Know...," Machovec talks with staff writer Corey Clark on a variety of topics, ranging from his college days to his five children to his future goals.

CC: So where did you graduate from college?
DM: I graduated from Liberty University, but I actually went to Elon first. Things didn't work out there and I sat out for three and a half years. Then I walked on at Liberty as an outside linebacker, but they had a position open on the offensive line so I worked into that position.
I got a starting position at quickside tackle, but I only had one year of eligibility left because my clock had started at Elon. From that point on, I served as a resident assistant at Liberty and that paid for everything. I got a full ride.

CC: So what did you do during those three and a half years?
DM: I lived at home (in Augusta) and I worked everything from construction to lifeguarding. Those were the basic jobs I did during that time. And I just got my life in order. I had made decisions and choices in my life ... I guess the bottom line is that I started making the right choices.

CC: So when did you arrive in Gwinnett?
DM: April 12, 2004.
I remember the date specifically ...

CC: Wow - I hope you remember your anniversary date, too?
DM: (laughs) Oh yeah, I remember that one, too. But I had been a coach at Lakeside High School and Evans High School in Evans County for 13 or 14 years ... Then I got out of my contract and on April 12, 2004, I came to Dacula. Things had really worked out so I could come to Dacula and it wasn't at the beginning of the school year, but near the end. It was great. I was able to spend time with that group of kids for six weeks before school let out, so I knew all the kids already when the summer started ... and when I came here on April 12, Coach (Kevin) Maloof provided me a great opportunity to serve the community and be at a great school. And it's great working for the Coach of the Year - (laughs) hey, I've got to get some job security stuff in there.

CC: And of course you unleashed your two high school kids on the rest of the county and state as well, resulting in a number of state and region discus and shot put titles. Was it tough keeping up with all the things written on Israel and Eve?
DM: I came from Columbia County in Augusta, and no disservice to (that paper), but they do a fraction of what goes on in this county. It's not even in the same league. It was interesting, there was one article on them that I didn't even know was in the paper until somebody told me. He said, 'I read an article on your son and daughter in the paper,' and I said, 'Oh, really?' I had no idea. It's just amazing here.

CC: Do you guys have enough room in your house to keep all the press clippings?
DM: We've collected the clippings and we have them in a big frame that you put on the wall. And Eve makes a scrapbook. It's great memories for them and for the family.

CC: So how did you and your wife (Jill, the head volleyball coach at Hebron Christian Academy) meet?
DM: She was an all-state basketball player in Ohio and got a scholarship to play at Liberty University. And I just swept her off her feet. Actually she was a farm girl from Ohio, who grew up on a 200-acre apple farm - just a beautiful place. And I struck up a friendship with her, we dated for about two years and then got married.

CC: And then you had your wonder kids?
DM: (laughs) Yeah, she's more athletic than me. They're fortunate they got her looks and her athleticism.

CC: With your background in strength and conditioning, are you easily the strongest coach on the Dacula staff? It's not even close is it?
DM: Let's put it this way. I might not be the strongest, but I know I'm the best looking ... other than Coach Maloof of course.

CC: What's your most embarrassing moment?
DM: I'll tell you one of my most embarrassing moments. It was a scrimmage against McEachern my first year here and we were moving the ball down the field. And I was standing there and I screamed out from the top of my lungs, forgetting that I was now a Falcon, I screamed out, 'Let's go Panthers!' And I could slowly see the heads of the kids and coaches beside me turning around, and they were like, 'What?' And I just had to say, 'Oh man, I'm sorry.' That's one of the most embarrassing stories that I can talk about.

CC: Was it strange sending your first-born off to college (Israel is at UGA on a track scholarship)?
DM: It's so close though, that's the nice part about it. And I can tell you, there's less mess in the house now and the grocery bill has dropped about 100 dollars a week. We miss him, for sure. But I tell you who really misses him more are his sisters. Anna (11), Rachel and Rebecca (twin 6-year-olds) always like kidding around with him and playing games ... and it's a nice thing that he's so close. He'll still be able to see them and that was one of the strong cases in why we chose Georgia.

CC: How long do you think you'll continue to do this for a living?
DM: Until the Lord calls me elsewhere really. That's the reason I'm here right now and until the Lord calls me and my family elsewhere, this is where I'll be. But it's been a great experience. The people, the area, being involved in the community and the Hebron Baptist Church. It's just been a great experience for the family.

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