Skala earns the keys to Owatonna’s offense

Owatonna’s Matt Skala is in his 21^st season as part of the Huskies’ football program coaching staff, but the 2025 season will mark a new adventure for the seasoned coach as he takes over the Huskies’ offensive coordinator role.

Head Coach Jeff Williams has been the team’s play caller for the majority of his career, however, the recent departure of defensive coordinator Marc Actherkirch after 30 years with the program called for Williams to switch to running the defense.

“I definitely wouldn’t have seen this coming when I was a kid growing up in the Owatonna football system. I grew to love the sport, and Coach [Jeff] Williams and Coach [Marc] Achterkirch were a big part of that. My first year was Williams’ first season as head coach, so it’s been really cool to see from the athlete’s perspective, his first few years coaching and now be in position to be there toward maybe the end of his career as well,” said Skala.

He attributes his longstanding relationship with Williams as both a player and a coach as a major advantage when it comes to making decisions.

“We’re pretty much always on the same page. It takes some of the pressure away from decision making when I know how well we prepare and understand our team. Where coaches on other teams may feel that pressure and separation of responsibilities between the staff at times, really all of our coaches have their hands in so many different parts of this system that we all work together,” said Skala.

After a breakout season in 2025, Owatonna will be forced to find some new offensive firepower after losing key players in Nolan Ginskey (wide receiver), Luke Webber (wide receiver), Seth Johnson (wide receiver), Hunter Theis (quarterback) and Jack Meneguzzo (center.)

The main task will be finding a successor at quarterback. After that decision is made, the rest of the offense will hinge on camp standouts.

“We’ll look at who steps into that quarterback role and then assess the athletes we have around him. We’re a program that likes to get as many kids as possible on the field, and we’ve been fortunate to have a lot of talented guys who really buy in,” said Skala.

A big returning name for the Huskies will be starting running back Tristan Graham, who should figure to serve as the team’s bell-cow back once again in 2025.

According to Skala, summer scrimmages won’t be the only place where competition will be fierce.

“It’s going to be fun competing on the other side of the ball with [Coach Williams’] defense. He’s a hall of fame coach and a national coach of the year nominee so whatever direction he goes with the team, he’s going to succeed.”

While the promotion is an exciting new chapter, Skala also noted the importance of recognizing the greatness of Achterkirch’s defenses over the years.

“[Williams] said it himself, ‘I’m stepping into Coach Achterkirch’s shadow.’ He’s the best defensive coordinator I’ve ever seen. The way he prepared and led our guys, he’s given so much to this program. We’re going to miss him tremendously. But at the same time, we’re so happy for him being able to have more time to enjoy watching his son play college football,” said Skala.

Achterkirch’s son, Grant, is a sophomore linebacker on the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse football team and saw action in six games for the Eagles in 2024.