Generally the top two or three teams in any classification will find the names of their head coach thrown around for coach of the year consideration, and in nearly all cases, rightfully so, but sometimes, coaches whose teams finish with a less than spectacular record don't get the credit they deserve for exceptional coaching across the course of a complete season.
Last week we looked at several coaches in the classes 3A and 2A whose team's tallied impressive performances in 2011. This week let's take a look at some of the small classes most noteworthy coaching performances.
8-Man I
Lakeside
In 16 years as the head coach at St. John's Beloit High School Curt Christians led the Blujays to a 76-72 record and earned the respect of his peers in the Kansas coaching ranks. In just three seasons at Lakeside he turned the program from doormat to title contender.
After two years as an assistant for the Knights Christians took over the head coaching spot in 2009 and made an immediate impact leading Lakeside to 4-5 and 8-2 records, but 2011 saw Lakeside break out and step to the edge of greatness as the Knights rolled through the regular season and posted impressive victories over Lebo and Marmaton Valley in the playoffs before being ousted from the postseason by eventual champion Madison.
An e-mail submission from a former player lauds the Lakeside coaching staff and highlights their accomplishments noting the culture change within the program.
"The coaches have taken a losing culture, one in which the players didn't work hard and the coaches didn't know how to lead, to one that loves to lift weights, run sprints, and hit the other team."
South Gray
Third year Rebel coach Jeff Blattner led South Gray to a 14-5 record in his first two seasons but the sting of missing the playoffs in 2010 following narrow losses to Hodgeman County and Ness City was burned into the players' minds. The Rebels rebounded nicely in 2011 rolling through the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs with relative ease.
In the semi-finals the Rebels upended the Osborne Bulldogs 42-38 in one of the year's best playoff games. Outmatched by defending state champion Madison, South Gray put up a valiant fight in the title game, falling short 30-12.
Blattner led the Rebels to an 11-1 record and in the process South Gray scored at least 30 points in their 11 wins including a stretch of nine straight games with at least 42 points. South Gray avenged the afore mentioned losses to Hodgeman County and Ness City in impressive fashion with scores of 50-6 and 72-40 respectively.
8-Man II
Cheylin
For Cheylin's Max Keltz, 2010 was a near storybook season. After years of mediocrity the Cougars rode an inexperienced senior class into the spotlight and finished an impressive 10-1 on the season with their only loss to eventual state runner-up Otis-Bison. But graduation took a heavy toll with only two starters back on offense and five on defense entering 2011. When an automobile accident ended top returning running back Dalton Magnani's season it appeared like it may have ended Cheylin's.
But the Cougars rallied around the goal of continuing a winning tradition in Bird City and diminutive senior running back Jeremiah White emerged as a solid, if not spectacular playmaker, putting up over 2,000 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns.
The defense performed as their experience would indicate allowing more than 20 points in a game only twice - both losses - and posting four consecutive shutouts to close the regular season. Perhaps more significant than White's 2,000 yard season were the 102 and 143 tackles posted respectively by seniors Austin Manners and Noah Jones, and the 21 total sacks tallied by the team.
With seven seniors on the 2011 squad, including White, Manners, Jones and end Ethan Young, it will be difficult for the Cougars to repeat the level of success this fall. But that's what they told Keltz at the end of 2010.
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