SPORTS WRAP
Owatonna football will have a different look this fall with a shuffling of the coaching staff. Hall of fame head coach Jeff Williams becomes the defensive coordinator. Marc Achterkirch is stepping down after 30 years to support his son, Grant, who plays football at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
“He really was a great play caller. Great at telling us what to do. I feel like he knew what the offense was going to do before they did it. He’s a great guy and I love him. An extremely nice guy, but he kind of had that little, scary scowl. He’d put a little shiver in your boots if you didn’t perform like he expected. He was good at getting the guys going… Coach Williams keeps bragging about how he thinks he’s meaner than Achterkirch. I’m not sure how much I’ve seen that yet,” said senior captain and defensive lineman Max Flemke.
Flemke believes the defense will stay the same. “I think Williams and Achterkirch were always on the same page with what they were doing.”
“Matt Skala will take over as the primary play caller on the offensive side of the ball. We really like our experience there. Kyle Melcher has done a great job with our offensive line. Nate Skala with our wide receivers. Matt Williams did a great job last year with the tight ends and will take on a larger role with the wide receivers,” said Williams.
Brayden Truelson joins the staff to work with the quarterbacks.
Matt Skala says there’s continuity. “As a staff we’ve always worked closely together. We spend our weekends together. And even on game nights our communication has been superb. Just because the responsibilities are changing, it’ll still be lots of people giving input and ideas,” said Skala.
“We’ve got a good, young staff. Those guys are ready to elevate into larger roles. We’re looking forward to that transition. It’s my job to try to mentor and make sure that those guys understand their roles… So that when I ultimately do decide that it’s time to step back, it won’t be a huge void. We’ll have guys that are ready and in place,” said Williams.
Jerry Eggermont is retiring from coaching outside linebackers. Marc Clausen, defensive secondary, is leaving to concentrate on his new position as middle school activities director.
“Neil Thompson and Adam Woitalla have been working with our secondary for a number of years. So, we feel pretty good about the transition in the back end of our defense,” Williams stated.
Williams was a finalist for national coach of the year.
“Well deserved. He puts in so much time and energy. He’s given everything he has to Owatonna football and our community and our kids. He’s built a lot of coaches around him. And what I think is really cool, a lot of alumni. I’m one of them,” said Skala.
OHS has won three Prep Bowls since 2013 and was a state semifinalist last year. The Huskies season opens on Friday, Aug. 29 when Mankato East comes to Federated Field.
Youth football camp
Skala invites kids to the Huskies youth football camp. “We emphasize fun… A lot geared toward multi-sport athletes. A lot of our drills, you can relate to a wrestling skill or a basketball skill or a baseball skill… We have kids coming from New Richland and Blooming Prairie. Some Northfield kids are coming down. We have some kids who come to camp who don’t necessarily play football,” said Skala.
Flemke grew up going to camp. “I thought the football players were the coolest people on earth… Met Jason Williamson. I thought that was the coolest thing. Met Coach [Williams.] Always thought it would be super cool to play for him. Now being here, it’s cool to be on the other side of things…You see all the little kids doing the same to you,” said Flemke.
Camp is Aug. 4-7 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the practice fields at the new high school.