DeKalb County Tigers football head coach Steve Trapp said he needed to change some things up after 20 years of coaching.
Trapp entered this season with his coaching staff taking on new roles. Some new roles this season include Defensive Coordinator Michael Shaw manning the strength and conditioning program this season. Assistant Coach Kason Wheeler monitored the speed and conditioning this summer. Trapp said for as much as he wanted to hang on to those roles, he realized he needed to adapt as well.
“You modify and adjust the things that you think you need to tweak to help those kids on the right path,” Trapp said. “It all comes back to that process of work, building upon everything, and it’s exciting to put the full pads back on, put some scrimmage work, and start playing some football.”
Trapp saw five seniors graduate in between seasons. One was his starting quarterback, whom Trapp replaced with junior quarterback Jesse Fouts. Trapp said the returning players coming back does not mean their work ethic should change.
“The leadership, the culture, they’ve been around it, they should know it,” Trapp said. “That doesn’t mean that they just come in and they don’t have to continue to work and they don’t have to continue to live up to the standards but they do have the opportunity to leave a legacy.”
Trapp said he gives all the seniors a choice before every season.
“When you are gone next year, there’s going to be a team left,” Trapp said. “Do you want the guys that are still here to say I’m glad I got to play with him or do you want them to say I’m glad he’s gone?”
DeKalb opened their season with a win against Warren County 19-16. The Tigers will host White House in Week Two.
