Gene Cathcart made his first appearance as Batesburg-Leesville High School head football coach Thursday.

Speaking before reporters, several returning players and school officials in the Media Center, Cathcart reiterated his goal is to "restore the roar" with the Panthers.

"I think you want to put the very best product that we can out on the field," he said. "At Batesburg-Leesville and really anywhere you care about kids, there's really no such thing as a rebuilding year, because that implies to the senior class that they're year doesn't matter.They're just kind of fodder for the future, so to speak.

"What we want to do is learn how to practice, learn from each other and go out and do the very best we can in 218 days and compete each and every Friday night. The way to become champions, ultimately, is to play and practice everyday like a champion. And so that's kind of what our goal will be."

Cathcart takes over a Panthers' program which has not won a state title since 2013 under Jerry Brown. It has won seven overall and last made the finals in 2016 under now-Lexington head coach Perry Woolbright.

"I'm very familiar with the tradition that (Batesburg-Leesville) has," he said. (Former head coach Phil) Strickland and all the litany of great coaches that have been here and the successful teams that have been here."

Cathcart arrives in Batesburg-Leesville with his family owning championship credentials. He won three Class 4A Division I titles at Greenwood High School (two as an assistant, one as a head coach) and led Jefferson High School in Georgia to a Class 4A state final appearance. He's also coached at Pickens, Seneca, Manning and Daniel High schools as well as served as an assistant at Presbyterian College.

In addition, Cathcart served as a volunteer quarterbacks coach to University of Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett. He passed along a message to the Panthers players from the newly-crowned national champion.

"Wishes are free," he told Cathcart. "Any coward can wish. Dreams cost. The start of the dream is the heart of a dreamer."

Despite the resume, Cathcart knows building trust in the players and showing their high value is key. For now, he will continue to commute three hours from Jefferson to Batesburg-Leesville until his contract begins July 1.

"I've got to show them that I have their heart and their best interest in mind and do I know what I'm doing enough to get their attention," he said.

Along with better players, Cathcart believes developing productive young players who can contribute to society in a positive manner is equally important. When it comes to putting together a staff, Cathcart plans to meet with former head coach Gary Adams and the assistants. He hopes to get good coaches who are also good teachers.

He closed out by stating his team's identity of being smart, tough and playing with class. Before answering questions from reporters, he briefly met individually with the players in attendance and shook their hands.

See a video of Cathcart's press conference right now at www.lexingtonchronicle.com.