“He’s one of our foundation kids,” Keiling proudly said.
It was an odd statement considering Taetsch has never played organized football before.
Gymnastics was his sport of choice until Keiling persuaded Taetsch to try football during a lunch hour meet-and-greet at Woodbridge Middle School last spring as Gar-Field’s new head football coach.
The visit was part of Keiling’s tour to touch base at each of Gar-Field’s middle-school feeder programs and sell his vision. He knew going in it might be a tough sell. Gar-Field football has experienced lean times lately, going 0-10 in two of the last four seasons and failing to reach the playoffs since 2011.
But Keiling, who is Gar-Field’s third head coach since 2013, wanted to change the culture by taking baby steps. And encouraging kids to give Gar-Field football a shot was part of the rebuilding process no matter their experience level.
In Taetsch, Keiling saw an enthusiastic kid hungry for an opportunity. That was enough for now.
“He’s a good student, a promising athlete,” Keiling said. “This is the kind of kid we’re going to build our program on.”
Based on his 20-plus years in the youth leagues as well as an assistant at Gar-Field, Hylton and Bishop Ireton, the retired Army veteran connects with kids, which, in part, is why Keiling was hired even though he’s never been a high school head coach before.
Keiling creates a buzz without inflating expectations. The kids in turn see someone they want to play for and give their all to no matter how steep the climb might be.
Sophomore Cole O’Connor, who spent last season on the freshman team, is a perfect example. He was so taken by Keiling’s message that he became the program’s resident pitchman for sponsorships to help underwrite the new uniforms.
“Gar-Field is invested in football,” Keiling said.
A FRESH START
Of the 16 high schools in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park who have football teams, no one is facing a tougher challenge right now than Gar-Field. The Indians have been in a downward spiral since 2011 to the point that only 22 players showed up for the first day of practice last season, a shocking total when you consider Gar-Field has around 2,500 students.
The reasons for the drop-off vary, from a change in student demographics to going 0-10 in 2013 and 2015, all of which underscores why a turnaround has been an uphill battle regardless of who is in charge.
Keiling’s predecessor, Chris Williams, a Gar-Field graduate who played on the Indians’ 1990 Group AAA Division 6 champion, was as committed as anyone to reversing the Indians’ fortunes, but could only do so much with what he had to work with. Williams stepped down in November after going 3-27 in three seasons and is now the wide receivers coach at Colgan, where he also teaches.
When he interviewed for the Gar-Field job, Keiling laid out a five-year plan that began with looking to the future rather than focus on the past.
To help articulate his approach, Keiling researched how teams built programs at the high school, college and NFL levels. One person’s philosophy resonated with him: Dean Colbert, who started two prep football programs in Texas.
“[His] approach and principles were in line with my personal beliefs in team work and organizational management,” Keiling said.
Change has come in various forms for a program with the team motto, “A New Day for Gar-Field Football.”
The Indians will have different uniforms and helmets this season, something Keiling implored the school to help with as a way to reward kids committed to the football program. <... Click here to read full article
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