Gavin Glenn finds his spot leading Coe offense

CEDAR RAPIDS - Gavin Glenn is a model of perseverance.

The Coe senior has faced some ups and downs until settling in as the Kohawks starting quarterback, starting his college career at Division II Minnesota-Duluth and serving as a reserve before this season.

Glenn is at home, leading the Coe offense and calling the signals for the Iowa Conference's top scoring offense. He will try to help the 15th-ranked Kohawks (8-0, 6-0 IIAC) remain unbeaten Saturday against Buena Vista at Clark Field, beginning at 1 p.m.

Glenn has thrown for 1,807 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He is atop the IIAC in passing efficiency.

'He just stayed the course and kept working hard,” Coe Coach Tyler Staker said. 'Coming into this year, I'm just really proud with how he's performed and how he's handled all that adversity. It's paying off for him this season.”

Staker and his father, former Coe head coach and current assistant Steve Staker, recruited Glenn out of Adel ADM. Mike Whisner, the younger Staker's uncle, coached Glenn in high school. They were well aware of Glenn's potential that led to almost 3,800 yards as a senior, including 3,017 and 38 touchdowns passing.

'He was one of our top recruits,” Staker said. 'I met with him at the school and had a chance to visit with him a little bit and he was great through the recruiting process. Very open and honest with me.”

Glenn chose Minnesota-Duluth initially, opting for the chance at an athletic scholarship not available at the NCAA Division III level. After one season and a coaching change, Duluth was no longer the right fit. Glenn considered a couple IIAC schools, but the loyalty shown by the Stakers influenced him.

'Both Stakers wanted it to be known that if I didn't like my first situation that they were going to be there if I was looking to come back,” Glenn said. 'When I made that choice I went straight back to the Stakers and asked if they still felt the same way and then it went from there.”

Coe was 4-6 last season and 5-5 in 2014. Glenn was essentially a backup to Josh Rekers, getting a couple starts last year.

'The last couple years have been hard,” Glenn said. 'You're competing and trying to prove yourself every single day and it wears on you when the results aren't exactly there. From sticking it out and the guys on the team, it made it easier to get through than most programs.”

Glenn has been the man under center for the Coe offense. Staker said Glenn has been able to demonstrate his skill, including strength of identifying pre-snap reads, attacking desired matchups and improvising during broken plays turning them into gains.

He has devoted a lot of time in the film room and has greatly improved.

'He has a great command of our offense,” Staker said. 'He is managing it really well. He picks and chooses his battles, even in the run game. He's a really smart kid.”

Glenn has benefitted from a stellar rushing attack led by Trevor Heitland, who has 1,297 yards and 10 TDs. Heitland is also a receiving target, catching 25 passes for 381 yards and five TDs. Former Prairie prep Demetrius Harper leads Coe with 417 receiving yards and six scores.

'I don't think it's just me,” Glenn said. 'I think it's the whole team. I think everyone else has raised their play.

'It's about getting the ball into the right hands.”

Heitland's big games have overshadowed Glenn at times. Staker said that can help alleviate pressure and prevent Glenn from trying to do too much.

Glenn has been clutch when his number has been called. He has helped lead two final-minute drives for wins, hitting Harper for a late TD against Wartburg and rushing for the go-ahead TD against Central in consecutive weeks.

'Every single drive we're trying to score,” Glenn said. 'The mind-set of having to score didn't change. We didn't have to go out of our way to make those game-winning drives. It came down to executing.

'I may have thrown the pass but there were many other pieces that went into it.”

The Kohawks are a win away from clinching an IIAC title and playoff berth, owning a head-to-head tiebreaker with Dubuque (7-1, 5-1). Glenn may not have predicted the Kohawks' success this season, but isn't surprised by it because of the added participation in summer workouts.

'Going into the season there was a different mind-set with the senior leaders, wanting a change,” Glenn said. 'Looking at it now, it's not a surprise because it shows all the work we did put in is starting to pay off.”

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