By Malcolm Butler
Although Cedar Creek’s roster numbers aren’t where head coach William Parkerson would ultimately like – the Cougars are sitting at 28 players two full weeks before the regular season starts – one place Creek has some depth this year as at another important position.
Coach.
The school made a concerted effort to increase those numbers heading into 2023 as this year’s Cougars varsity football coaching staff sits at nine.
In addition to Parkerson, who will serve as the offensive coordinator for the Cougars, Creek’s coaching staff this season includes: Mark Ware (DC), Jordan Shaffer (Slot Backs/LB), Jacob Angevine (DL/TEs), Tripp Marcus (RB/DB), Joseph Gautney (OL/DL), KJ Malone (OL/DL), River Gross (Slot Backs/DB) and Bryce Meche (WR/DL).
Only Ware, Angevine, and Meche are returning “letterwinners” for the Creek coaching staff.
But even more importantly than numbers, Parkerson feels the men coaching the Cougars are invested and
“What I really like is they have poured into these kids,” said Parkerson. “They are coaching them hard and loving them hard. They are really getting to know them from football to being mentors for them. Like I always say, we want to coach them hard and love them harder, and they are doing a great job with that.”
In order to get that 28-roster number back up into the 40s, Parkerson knows the culture within the program is vital. Kids talk. And the good and the bad within any program is communicated around classmates.
So, Parkerson and his coaching staff are working hard to build lasting relationships with the Cougar players.
“Relationships are everything,” said Parkerson. “If kids know you care about them then they will play harder for you. These guys have done a really good job of getting to know them and treating them like family.”
In addition to quantity, Parkerson also feels he has assembled a high Football IQ group as well.
“We all have a good football background,” said Parkerson. “Even the kids say they have never had this many coaches out here coaching them. They see it. Everybody is getting coached on every play. It’s hard to hide with nine coaches out here. You are getting coached on every play.”
Creek travels to Lakeside tonight for a 6:30 p.m. scrimmage before facing Mangham Aug. 26 at 3 p.m. in the Bayou Jamb at West Monroe.
