Cronic, Anderson, Prather join athletic department as assistant football coaches
Drew Cronic comes to the Eagles from Central High School in Carrollton, Ga., where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for one season. Before that, Cronic spent nine years at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., the last four as recruiting coordinator. During his time at Furman, he coached the running backs, tight ends and wide receivers. From 1999-2002, Cronic was the wide receivers coach and assistant recruiting coordinator at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., after serving one year handling the wide receivers as a graduate assistant at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton.
"Drew brings a wealth of experience of recruiting the state of Georgia," Dr. Cronic said. "He played quarterback for me in high school at East Coweta and wide receiver for Jim Donnan at UGA."
Originally from Sharpsburg, Ga., Drew Cronic earned two varsity letters in 1996 and 1997 at the University of Georgia in Athens. While at Georgia, he was the first recipient of the Leon Farmer Award (for strength and conditioning) because of his work ethic in the weight room and named to the 1996 Southeastern Conference All-Academic Team. Other Bulldogs on that list include current UGA offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, University of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, ESPN college football analyst Matt Stinchcomb and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. Cronic earned his bachelor's degree in math education from Georgia in 1997 and a master's in educational leadership at West Georgia in 1999. He is married to the former Amelia Williams of Newnan.
"I was blown away when I came up here and just saw the place and saw the commitment," Drew Cronic said of Reinhardt. "I think we can have a great program and I think we can put good young men back out in the community. There are a lot of positive people and a lot of positive things happening here."
Anderson was an assistant coach at NAIA member Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., the past two seasons, working with the linebackers and serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. With Anderson on the coaching staff, Cumberland posted a combined 15-6 overall record the last two campaigns. His recruiting areas with the Bulldogs included parts of Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. Anderson's coaching career began at E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, Va., where he was the linebackers and tight ends coach for one year.
"Ryan spent the last two seasons coaching linebackers at Cumberland University, where they had a very good defense this past year," Dr. Cronic said. "Ryan is very bright and a very capable young man whom we are very proud to have on our coaching staff."
A native of Forest, Va., Anderson played linebacker at Jefferson Forest High School before moving on to Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va. After one year at VMI, he transferred to Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., where he received three letters and was a starting linebacker his final two seasons. Before getting his bachelor's degree in psychology from Presbyterian with cum laude honors in 2009, Anderson was an intern at the Big South Conference office in Charlotte, N.C.
"I came down here and was really shocked at the commitment by the school and everything that was going on here," Anderson said. "Knowing the state of Georgia, I thought it was an awesome opportunity to go somewhere where there is a huge amount of talent to pull from. With what the school's doing, I think it's going to be a real successful program."
Prather was a coach, teacher and school administrator for several years in North Georgia. He coached with Dr. Cronic at LaGrange High School and nearby Cherokee High School in the 1970s and 1980s. Prather spent six campaigns as a head football coach, two at Cherokee (1987-88), one at Jefferson High School (1984) and three at Central in Carrollton (1974-76). He assisted the Atlanta Falcons as an NFL scout for five years and BLESTO, an NFL scouting service, for four years. Prather has been a high school football analyst for television and radio broadcasts in the area for the past decade.
"Larry brings a lot of excitement and enthusiasm to our program," Dr. Cronic said. "Plus, he has a wealth of experience and knowledge."
Prather is from Jasper, Ga., and a graduate of Pickens High School. He received a full scholarship to play football at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was a three-time letterman and two-year starter at center. Prather acquired his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Chattanooga in 1972, a master's in education at West Georgia in 1975 and a specialist in education from Georgia in 1985. A Canton, Ga., resident, he has been married to the former Janice Robertson for nearly 40 years and together they have two grown daughters, Jodi Sears and Julie Peppers, a 2006 Reinhardt honors graduate and former standout cross country runner for the Lady Eagles.
"I love football, I love teaching, I love coaching and I'm trying to be more involved in the activities here locally," Prather said. "I'm very aware of the Reinhardt community from having lived here, and was very impressed with how Reinhardt brings students in and surrounds them with their sphere of love, concern and care, and turns out a good product from that. I just want to be involved in helping young students see the value of a college education in a faith-based institution like Reinhardt. It's just fun to be around something new and exciting."