Three Westside coaches reflect on decades of leadership as new era begins

A new era is beginning to unfold at Westside High School.

“New era” might sound a bit heavy, but it seems like an appropriate phrase when three of the most beloved coaches at the school move to new positions at the same time.

That’s exactly what’s happening for the Seminoles. Three leaders who have shaped Westside’s athletic identity — football coach Sheddrick “Spoon” Risper, girls basketball coach Candice Roberson and flag football and boys basketball coach Josh Grube — all left their respective roles at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

It was not all at once, of course. Risper announced his departure long ago, before the 2025  football season. Roberson and Grube decided later to move on from their coaching gigs. 

After those announcements and a bittersweet end to the school year, the trio of coaches reflected on the culture they had built at Westside — and what will become of it in the future.

The three of them agreed that it ought to last a while.

Creating a standard

Risper was the first of the group to arrive, beginning as an assistant at Westside in 1998 while working at its “feeder” school, Weaver Middle. He quickly realized that Macon was a place he could build.

After all, legendary Westside football coach Robert Davis — a mentor of Risper’s and his predecessor — was already in the process of turning the new school out on Heath Road into Macon’s gridiron powerhouse. The Seminoles went more than a decade without losing to another Bibb County school on the football field.

When Risper took over for Davis years later in 2009, it was relatively seamless. The next 16 years were marked by big wins, emotional losses and many bonds.

Through all that time, Risper said, he tried to coach about life as much as he did football.

“We had students walk through here a little rough under the neck. We ended up smoothing a lot of kids out. They became successful students, but also successful husbands and successful dads,” Risper said. “We’ve just tried to hold it down and keep a high standard.”

Helping Risper all the while with that coaching philosophy was Josh Grube, who came on as an assistant when Risper took the head coaching job in 2009.

Grube also became the boys basketball coach soon after, implementing many of the same life lessons with his players as Risper did, preaching level-headedness and poise. Grube also was quickly recognized for his animated nature on the sideline as he became a fixture at Bibb County hoops games.

While players sometimes drew his ire as he emoted from the bench, Grube always bonded with them — it was something he prioritized.

“I think we’d all rather be remembered by our relationships with the kids,” Grube said. “For me personally, I’d rather be remembered by: ‘Oh, I really loved playing for Coach Grube. He really cared.’”

And then there was Grube’s relationship with Risper. The two were — and still remain — like brothers, texting each other constantly, asking about family members and offering favors.

“When you work with somebody that long, you have so many (memories),” Grube said. “Just being around each other and the camaraderie and the small talk. We became like brothers and best friends. I’ll cherish that stuff forever.”

It wasn’t long until Roberson arrived and fit right into the mix. The girls basketball coach was hired in 2012 and later replaced Risper as the school’s Athletic Director.

Together, the three of them patrolled the halls, fields and courts of Westside as important figures in the lives of hundreds of students.

“For us, it was about creating a safe space for kids,” Roberson said. “An environment where there’s gonna be structure. Most kids gravitate toward that. They want people in their lives that’s gonna push them, but at the same time love on ‘em. Their vulnerabilities are okay. We wanted to create that.”

They had a bit of fun while they did it, too.

“We always start morning duty with a laugh,” Risper said. “We emphasized regular conversation and started the day with a bunch of giggles. I’m really going to miss that. When you can be human for a minute, it means a lot.”

Seeing the results

Relationships matter, but as any coach will tell you, so does winning.

These three Westside coaches would say that the former begets the latter — and it’s hard to argue with the results, for the most part.

Risper surpassed his predecessor Davis not only for football wins at Westside, but for the most wins of any coach in Bibb County School District history. He reached the quarterfinals twice. Grube and Roberson led both of the basketball teams to regular season region championships and playoff runs. The boys team reached the Elite 8 and the Final Four in successive years. Roberson’s squad had a playoff run in 2021 that she still thinks about.

And, as if those achievements weren’t enough, Grube took the gig as the head coach of Westside’s flag football program when it began. With the help of some incredible athletes from Roberson’s girls basketball squads, Grube helped Westside net multiple undefeated regular season finishes.

All these victories came in a city with 14 high schools, making competition fierce. It meant Westside needed to have star athletes.

“There’s almost too many to count,” Grube said of the best players he coached.

On the boys basketball side, there’s an obvious standout: Kowacie Reeves, who dominated at Westside before playing college ball at Florida and Georgia Tech. Reeves signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers last week, giving him a shot at making an NBA roster.

Khavon Moore was another star for the Seminoles, earning playing time at Texas Tech and Clemson on the hardwood.

“People are always asking me about who was the best, Khavon or Kowacie. The truth is, I really can’t pick — but they’re both at the top,” Grube said.

Risper had his fair share of names, too. Running back Travis Evans, who Risper worked with as an assistant in the early 2000s, held the county record for career touchdowns until Nick Woodford broke it two years ago. He also had the Westside single-season record for rushing touchdowns — until another of Risper’s players, bruising back Kadiphius Iverson, shattered that mark with a six-score playoff performance in 2024, cementing himself as one of the greatest to wear the garnet and gold.

Roberson saw her fair share of athletes as well, with stars like Taylor Talton and others also succeeding on the flag football field with Grube. One of the best players Roberson has ever seen, funny enough, will still be on the court for the Seminoles next year.

“As far as skill on the court, (the best) might be (rising junior) Dominique Billue,” Roberson said. “She’s the dream a lot of coaches would love to have. She has the size, she can shoot, she can pass. She’s got the ability, and she’s got it young.”

Billue is also a dominant force on the flag football team as a receiver and defensive back. Between her and Talton, Grube said it was pretty easy to draw up plays — as long as that duo had a connection, the ‘Noles were in good shape.

All three coaches spoke highly of several players and their on-court prowess, but they also fondly remembered all the moments spent off the court.

“I’ll always remember eating meals, getting our nails done, things like that,” Roberson said.

What’s next

Luckily for Roberson, she won’t have to give up those moments of mentorship. While she’s giving up her coaching duties, she will remain at Westside as the Athletic Director, a role she’s had for several years now in addition to her basketball leadership.

“It just felt like it was time to move on (from coaching). I felt like I couldn’t give 100% to both jobs,” Roberson said. “I was speaking with my principal earlier this year, and she put it best. ‘It’s finally time for you to stop dancing. … Now you get to be a member of the audience and see everything from a distance.’”

Risper and Grube echoed her sentiments about their decisions, saying it just felt like it was time to move on. Risper will be the head football coach at Macon County, while Grube said he will be closer to home in Warner Robins.

The trio will miss the players and each other. They’re proud of what they built at Westside — a tradition that should stand for a while.

“I know Coach Roberson will keep doing great things there, and I think the way we were as a group will stay in place,” Risper said. “There were a lot of lifelong memories made here, and I think the athletes will keep getting that experience.”