Troutman back in the game, as an assistant

Most school nights, Todd Troutman returns home around 8:30.

"Yeah, and my wife says, 'What are you doing here?' " said Troutman, who is wearing multiple hats this fall at Dyersville Beckman.

He's the athletics director. He's a volunteer assistant football coach, working with the receivers, defensive backs and special teams.

And he's back in volleyball, serving as an assistant coach under Jane Osterhaus.

"The AD did a horrible job finding Jane an assistant," Troutman said. "So she's stuck with this."

It's not as if Troutman is dead weight on the Beckman bench. He made the volleyball program a strong one in his 20 years as a head coach; his reign included a Class 2A runner-up finish at the 2000 state tournament.

Troutman had been out of the game since 2006. But Osterhaus needed an assistant and he was the best available option.

"I'm having a ball," Troutman said. "Jane does most of the work, and I drive the van. It's a good gig if you can get it."

A typical day goes like this -- school until 3:30 p.m., football practice until 6, then volleyball practice until 8.

Beckman's volleyball team is 4-2 after reaching the quarterfinals of the Warrior Invitational tournament. The football team is 2-0 and ranked third in Class 2A heading into this week's showdown at home with perennial power North Fayette.

Ty Troutman, Todd's son, is a senior on the football team. His daughter, Lexie, plays volleyball and is a freshman.

Troutman said Osterhaus -- co-head coach last year -- "does a fantastic. job. I like the way the kids respond to her."

Fast out of the gate

Class 4A second-ranked Iowa City High improved to 5-0 with four wins at its home tournament. Included was a 25-18, 20-25, 16-14 win over No. 3 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (7-1) in the round-robin tournament's pivotal match.

Other area unbeatens include Solon (which improved to 9-0 by winning the Warrior Invitational on Saturday) and Edgewood-Colesburg (4-0), which has moved into the 2A rankings at No. 10.

Maquoketa moved to 10-1 by winning the Mount Vernon Invitational on Saturday. The Cardinals downed the host Mustangs in the championship match.