New Central City coach wants to change program’s mindset

CENTRAL CITY – Central City football has a new coaching staff and a new outlook for the 2015 season, which begins with a Week 0 game Friday night at Rockford.

Matt Miers is the new head coach for the eight-man team. He was previously the passing game coordinator at Solon and the offensive coordinator at Kennedy.

'The hardest thing was going from 11-man to eight-man,” Miers said. 'It's still blocking and tackling. A few less players makes a huge difference.”

Central City welcomes new assistant coaches, too, in Max Matthias and Cody Ratliff. This is Matthias' first coaching job as he finishes his senior year at Coe College.

Ratliff spent several years coaching Central City junior high football. After meeting and talking to Miers, Ratliff knew he wanted to move up to coach varsity.

'(Miers) really knows the game well and is able to teach it to kids and make them understand what we're doing and why we're doing it,” Ratliff said. 'You can tell he is the kind of guy you want to work with.”

Miers decided on the theme building a new tradition to begin a new chapter in Wildcat football. Several components are being focused on, including team mindset, community involvement and goal-setting.

The head coach first worked to create a support group within and around the team. He wanted to build positive relationships with the players and even held a barbeque to become better acquainted. Miers is impressed with how the seniors have stepped into their leadership positions, from helping out with freshmen weightlifting to getting each other in to lift and run.

'The seniors are doing great,” Miers said. 'To see their leadership, building other players up is great. They're positive. It's what it takes to be a successful team.”

In addition, the Wildcats organized community service work to give back and pique interest in the program.

'We're trying to generate enthusiasm for Central City football,” Miers said.

Central City has not had a winning record in the last five years. Finishing with a positive record is definitely one goal, but both the coaches and players know it takes positivity and a one-game-at-a-time mindset to reach it.

'Their value as a person doesn't depend on the scoreboard,” Miers said. 'They're well prepared. We're going to be competitive.”

CENTRAL CITY, at a glance

Coach: Matt Miers (1st year)

Last year: 1-8

Returning letterwinners: QB/DB A.J. Lucas, OL/DL Storm Matthias, RB/DL Gavin Pospisil, WR/LB Klein Walker, RB/LB Jacob McNelly, WR/DB Brock White, RB/LB Austin Van Alst

Key losses: Seth Schlotterbeck, Mason Paustian, Wade McKinney

Key to making the playoffs: Miers is trying to build on a program with no winning tradition and just 'learning to compete.”

Games to watch: Sept. 11, at Cedar Valley Christian

Schedule

Aug. 21 - at Rockford

Aug. 28 - HLV

Sept. 4 - Janesville

Sept. 11 - at Cedar Valley Christian

Sept. 18 - Lansing Kee

Sept. 25 - at West Central

Oct. 2 - Springville

Oct. 9 - at Elkader Central

Oct. 16 - Midland

Oct. 23 - at Turkey Valley