Anamosa football coach, AD faces uphill climb

ANAMOSA - Derek Roberts faces an uphill climb at Anamosa High School.A steep uphill climb.Not only is he taking over a football program that has posted four victories in the past five seasons, he's doing it while continuing his duties as the school's athletics director.“It's a situation that would be difficult for anyone,” said Harold Roberts, Derek's 76-year-old father, who had planned to assist his son before the relapse of an optical issue halted that arrangement. “I think he's going to be stretched a little thin, especially this first year.”Football coach. And athletics director. It's not nearly as common of a combination as it used to be. The 35-year-old Roberts, in his eighth year as the school's AD, joins a small area fraternity that includes Curt Ritchie of Williamsburg, Duane Orr of Mount Vernon (who added AD to his resume this school year), Jason Ohrt of South Winneshiek and Tony Johnson of Highland.Ritchie manages, with much assistance from the Williamsburg administration.“Our superintendent is in charge of ticket people. Our assistant principal and principal handle crowd control. The elementary principal and curriculum director take care of the officials. The superintendent takes care of the press box people,” Ritchie said.“It's a challenge, yes. But to be honest, it's not as hectic as winter is for me. Winter is the busiest time as far as most nights in the gym.”Of course, Ritchie is in charge of a formidable football program. Roberts doesn't have that luxury.

Anamosa Coach Derek Roberts congratulates a Raider for a good play. (Becky Malewitz/SourceMedia Group News) The Raiders were winless in 2009 under Matt Malausky, who resigned after the season. Numbers are extremely small for a Class 3A program - only 22 players are on the varsity roster.What's lacking?“Effort and expectations,” Roberts said. “The way we play football here is not where it needs to be from an attitude perspective.”The Raiders (0-1) lost their opener last week, 20-0, to Monticello. They travel to Tipton on Friday.“I'm not concerned about the scoreboard,” said Roberts, a former all-state linebacker at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, from which he graduated in 1994. “We need to learn to play the game the way it's supposed to be played. We need 100-percent effort. We need a winning attitude.”As athletics director, Roberts didn't simply hire himself. The move was endorsed by the school's superintendent, principal and board of directors.When he took the job, he planned to bring along his father as an assistant. Harold Roberts, 76, was an assistant at the University of Iowa from 1967 through 1974, spending much of his effort as the head coach of the Hawkeyes' junior-varsity squad.He suffers from macular degeneration of the retina. When the condition worsened last week, the elder Roberts was forced to step aside.“The time I spent with (the Raiders), I enjoyed very much,” said Harold, who lives in Cedar Rapids. “They gave great effort. They were coachable.“They just need some victories and some confidence. Derek's system is good. He needs more players, and they need to get stronger.“They just need some time.”Coach Roberts said the Raiders' defense played “very well” against Monticello, noting that the Panthers scored twice with a short field.“The 22 kids we do have are working hard,” he said. “We'll get better each week. I promise you that.“This is my passion. I think it's my calling.”