Gaffney High quarterbacks coach Caleb Sorrells interacts with the players during Thursday's practice. Make no mistake first-year Gaffney High quarterbacks coach Caleb Sorrells is no Mike Leach, Jim Leavitt or Mark Mangino - disgraced coaches who were fired for mistreating their players.

Sorrells believes coaching is a profession with a higher calling. And he’s happy to put his strong Christian beliefs out there for all to see.

“I’m in (coaching) as a ministry,” the likable Sorrells said. “I’m competitive and I love to win games. But the ultimate goal is to minister to the kids. Certainly, if you become a football coach, you can approach it from a Christian perspective. I’m not here to use (the players) just to win football games, although I want to win every game. I believe the players are here because they want to play and have a good experience.”

Sorrells credits his father and mother for instilling a strong moral compass in him.

“Both my parents are strong believers and they raised me that way,” he said. “The strong morals have spared me from making bad decisions. (My parents) taught me good morals and what the Bible says.”

In fact, Sorrells lives by a simple fourword creed, “Love Good, Love People.”

He reconciles his passion for the game with its sometime violent side by imagining his Savior as a football player.

“Jesus would never back down,” Sorrells said. “He attacked stuff head on. I think he’d be a middle linebacker who would smack you in the mouth and then pick you up and congratulate you for a great play. I have the ultimate respect for my players and my coaches and the ultimate respect for the players and coaches on the other teams because they are doing the same thing we are doing.”

Football is in Sorrells’ genes. Sorrell’s father, Tim, is the longtime offensive coordinator at Furman University and his first cousin Paul is the head coach at Sumter High. His grandfather Fred may be the most recognizable as a legendary coach in Tennessee.

However, it may have been his younger brother - Jordan - that taught him the most valuable lesson. The brothers were teammates at Greenville High. They also played the same position - quarterback. Although, a grade ahead and older, Caleb served as Jordan’s backup.

You could imagine the ribbing that Sorrells took from both friends and foes. Instead of a source of dissension within the family, Sorrells learned from the experience.

“It gave me a unique opportunity, being able to see things as a coach,” Sorrells said. “I was able to see things

from the sidelines and that will make me a much better coach.”

After a sporadic and non-descript high school career, Sorrells walked on at Carson- Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn.

Although his snaps were limited to the practice field, it was life-changing experience for Sorrells.

“I was to the point that I was just going to suffer through it and just endure it,” he said. “But it was completely the opposite. It was an incredible experience. I had two quarterbacks coaches and It was a fantastic experience. From a human being standpoint, you were just as valuable (as a backup) as any other player in the program. I just hope that the guys I coach will come back to me someday and say

I was happy the way you treated me.’”

His relatives always made it a point to say that Sorrells was destined to coach and teach. But after college, he opted for a potentially lucrative job in the construction business.

However, a downturn in the economy had him second-guessing that decision. As luck - or more likely God’s plan - would have it, Gaffney High offensive coordinator and former Furman standout Donnie Littlejohn told Sorrells’ father that Gaffney was searching for a quarterbacks coach.

Sorrells’ father recommended his son.

It took some convincing, though, for Sorrells - who thought he’d feel more comfortable as a college coach - to apply for the high school job.

That uncertainty vanished after his interview with then head coach Phil Strickland and Littlejohn.

“I wasn’t quite sold. I came into the interview not knowing if I wanted to do it but after the interview I said I sure hope that I get the job,” Sorrells said.

Halfway through the team’s first spring practice, Sorrells knew he found his calling.

“I said this is it.”