Sam Howell's high school coach still a part of his football journey

By Pat Welter

"Cam Newton tournament we were in, we actually took Cam's money that year," Tad Baucom said as he pointed to a photo on the bookshelf in his office. "We won the tournament and $2500."

Baucom is the head football coach at Hickory Grove Christian in Charlotte, North Carolina. He's known for the signature toothpick that effortlessly sits on his smile.

"I have a tooth pick holder Pat," Baucom told me as he pulled out a small glass cylinder from his pocket. "Twenty-four of those at least on gameday," Baucom said.

The tooth pick might be his signature, but UNC quarterback Sam Howell is his claim to fame.

"That's Sam explaining to Cam some of the reads he had on his plays," Baucom said in reference to a picture of him, Howell and Newton.

Before Hickory Grove, Baucom was the head coach at Sun Valley High School for six seasons. The four he had with Howell are some of the most cherished memories of his career.

"Even in eighth grade you think about most middle school kids throwing a football," Baucom said. "And you have a young man who is already rolling and setting up, releasing chest out elbow up, spinning the ball."

Even before recruiters from all over the country were showing up at Sun Valley, Baucom introduced Howell to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. It was a Fellowship of Christian Athletes fundraiser. Swinney was the guest speaker and an eighth grade Howell was volunteering as a waiter.

"Dabo met him, Sam poured him tea," Baucom remembered. "Couldn't do much due to NCAA regulations."

The following week Clemson assistant coach Danny Pearman showed up at Sun Valley practice to see Howell.

"I said that's fine Danny, he's right there at that school," Baucom laughed. "He looked at me real weird, I said 'he's an eighth grader. He said 'I'm up here to see....' I said 'yeah'."

Four years later Swinney was in Baucom's office again recruiting Howell. Baucom remembers Swinney giving credit where it was due.

"If that guy with the toothpick ever tells you he's got a special athlete," Baucom remembers Swinney joking to a room full of coaches.

As much attention as Howell got as a player, Baucom says he's always been level headed.

"On a fourth down I think it was against Marvin Ridge near the goaline it was kind of foggy we can't really tell whats happening, it looks like [Howell] gets stopped near the three," Baucom said. "All of a sudden referee signals touchdown. I'm like 'what in the?' Sam jogs over stoic, no look on his face except plain.  His daddy is on the head phones he's like 'how'd you get in?' 'Well coach they were pinning my right arm so I switched it to my left arm.  And as I was going down I threw it into the endzone and he caught it'," Baucom remembered Howell saying. "I went 'you threw it left handed!' He said 'yep', grabs a water and walks off."

Howell's dad Duke was Baucom's offensive coordinator during Howell's four years. Baucom was floored by the work ethic Howell showed in high school which has carried on to this day.

"He loves the game more than anybody I've ever had," Baucom said. "He'd go home with his daddy, there's a couch in front of the TV he plops down does some homework, watch some film, do some home work, watch some film. If you don't believe me you can call [UNC offensive coordinator] Phil Longo. He called me at some point during [Howell's] freshman year and said 'coach you weren't kidding this guy is nuts. He's here waiting on me for film session."

With Howell just a couple hours away in Chapel Hill, Baucom has been able to attend every home game of Howell's college career.

"They were so kind up there so accommodating," Baucom said about the UNC staff. "As a high school coach we get to be out there on the field some before the game and it was just awesome watching him warm up and realizing that's your former player."

"Coach Baucom he's been awesome for me, I'm super blessed to have him in my life," Howell said during a media availability before the Duke's Mayo Bowl. "He's been there for me since the day I met him. He's a super faithful guy and I have a lot of respect for the way he lives his life.  He's such a good man and I aspire to be the man he is one day."

Howell has been there for Baucom too, even in the darkest of times.

"It's been a share of struggles," Baucom said "God is good, God's plan is perfect."

Baucom left Sun Valley the year after Howell graduated.

"It was time to retire, it was thirty one and a half years," Baucom said. "January [2020] came and my wife had a mass on her colon. We didn't know what it was."

Baucom resigned shortly after his wife's surgery. Doctors were able to remove the mass which turned out not to be cancerous. A few months later in May he received a call from his son in law.  On the other end was the worst news he'd ever faced.

"7:00am, I was setting the computer up for Church service to hear our preacher here," Baucom remembered. "Son in law called said 'I can't get air in her, I can't get air in her', it was horrible."

Baucom's daughter Taylor had been suffering from postpartum depression. Baucom said she accidentally overdosed on her medication. At the funeral service, Howell and his father were two of the many who came to show support.

"Left college, drove three hours to be there," Baucom remembered. "Our eyes met and he just," Baucom took his fist and pounded his chest. "It meant the world to me. There were a lot of people there it meant the world to me, but here's a nineteen year old kid.  He checks on me a lot, it means a lot that he does that."

In July of 2020 Baucom was hired to be the head football coach at Hickory Grove Christian where he was already a member of the church. His six year old grandson attends the school. He's worked his schedule so the two of them can have lunch every day.

"My plan if God wills is to be here coaching when that little guy is a senior," Baucom said. "Eleven more years, little while to go, God willing."

"Do you ever think you'll coach another Sam Howell?" I ask.

"Never thought I'd coach one," Baucom said. "So yeah I'll keep the door open for two."