MORGANTOWN — Most head coaches of any team in any sport entering their first season in the position agree that it is essential to establish a new era for their program while honoring the foundations that got them to where they are today.
After serving as an assistant for 20 years before taking over for the long-time head football coach John Kelley, who served 37 years on Baker’s Ridge, first-year UHS football head coach Eric Snyder knows the importance of putting his mark on the program while remembering what got him and his team in the position they’re in now.
“Tradition is something we’re able to carry over from year to year and that we can build upon going forward, no matter who is involved,” Snyder said. “Incorporating the alumni of our program is essential to us. Our current players always love meeting those former players and talking to them to hear stories about games they played in or about coaches they’ve played for.”
Recently, Snyder and the Hawks held the program’s first-ever Max Out event, showcasing the players’ progress in the weight room and on the field. They participated in lifts such as squats and deadlifts, each athlete aiming to achieve his heaviest lift, or “max,” and recording their best times in drills like the 40-yard dash.
“With that event, I wanted to put our athletes at the forefront and give them the spotlight to show where their hard work is paying off so far,” Snyder said. “Not just the athletes but their families that take the time to make sure their child gets to practice and to our lifting sessions; I wanted them to have the chance to see their child do the things they do at those sessions and practices. It seemed like it made a significant splash among the program and families, and our players also liked seeing their hard work pay off.”
Snyder said seeing the benefits among his team before the season starts is promising for his group and that seeing development early on is huge for his players going into the season.
“That’s one of the joys of coaching high school football,” he said. “Seeing kids develop over a season and their entire high school career is the greatest thing as a coach. Having the practices we’ve had and flex days this summer has allowed us to get on the field more and grow confidence in what we do regarding offense, defense, or special teams. It’s given our younger guys more depth and a chance to see what roles they will need to grow into.”
UHS will hold its first-ever football fan fest on Aug. 13 at Mylan Pharmaceutical Stadium from 7-9 p.m. Families and fans can meet the players and cheerleaders, listen to music from a DJ, enjoy various food trucks, enter giveaways, and more.
“We hope some of our alumni can join our fanfest and reconnect with the program,” Snyder said. “Being proud of where they came from is essential, and we hope to show them that they can be proud of where they came from and that it’s still there for them.”
