“The Coaches’ Wives” by W. Scott Jones

High school football is a world unto itself, especially in the South, especially in a small town. The Coaches’ Wives, by W. Scott Jones, draws the reader into that world, where everything revolves around the Friday night games, and where love and heartbreak, winning and losing, and success and tragedy all play a part in the lives of the football families. Dicey Creek, South Carolina, a small, wealthy suburb of Charleston, is the seemingly idyllic town where Jones sets his story.

This novel will resonate with anyone who grew up in a town where high school football was cherished, and where the coaches were local celebrities, more respected than even the mayor and ministers. But what of their families? What happens when the stadium lights are turned off and everyone heads home? As the book reveals, sometimes the needs of the wives and children went unmet, especially during the sports season when the game always comes first.

Jones creates interesting character arcs for each of these wives—Melanie, Shandra, Maria, and Jeannie. He recognizes their struggles to establish their own identities beyond just being a coach’s wife. They learn to lean on each other, and their close bonds with one another form the backbone of the story. They understand their role is to support their husbands. But they find it’s their relationships with each other that actually get them through difficult times, especially a horrific tragedy that occurs early in the novel. This tragedy changes their lives forever, as they deal with grief, betrayal, and mourning in the aftermath.

But the tragedy also brings unexpected opportunities. As the community of Dicey Creek recovers from this terrible event, the reader wonders if everyone will be happy with the new reality. Will these women adjust to their new lives? And will the coaches support their wives, just as the wives supported their husbands for years?

Jones explores the challenges of living a life turned upside down. The myriad plot lines intersect and veer off in creative, unexpected ways. Just when readers think they know what is going to happen next, there’s another surprise twist.

One of the strengths of the novel is the dialog. The characters speak in a lively and natural way, and Jones shows a flair for writing realistic conversations. There are plenty of Southern-isms like “This is football, not choir practice,” and “I sat over there and prayed like hell that she wouldn’t run out of those grits ‘cause I knew there’d be some pretty angry folks up in here this mornin’ if they weren’t able to eat some of Mrs.Hall’s famous shrimp and grits.”

Between the well-written dialog, the fast-moving plot, and the inventive character development of the four main women, this book is an entertaining and imaginative story. Readers will enjoy it, even if they aren’t football fans.

W. Scott Jones

Scott Jones is the author of three novels and one novella. Born in Alapaha, George, he grew up near Sumter, SC, and graduated from University of South Carolina. A semi-retired educator, he taught in various private and public schools in South Carolina. He also served as a high school Head Football Coach and Athletic Director.