I got something special for you guys. An exclusive, not your ordinary, interview with someone who may just save the OA Football program. New father, Ed Dewitt was hired as the new Oliver Ames Head Coach as Mike Holland stepped down. He will be taking over a team that went a stellar 1-10 last year with a gross loss to Sharon last year. I can say that because I was part of it. I asked Ed some questions over email, and I will add commentary as that is what I do best, comment on things that I have no business commenting on.
The first thing I asked him was what drew him to the open head coaching job here at our school.
“I have coached against Oliver Ames a few different times” he said and Dewitt was impressed by “the community support, athletes, facilities and commitment level” that the Oliver Ames Football team has. When the job became open, he just hoped he would get it to have the opportunity to become “a Tiger.”
I love this. Someone who has to gain trust from the kids as he is not from our school and players will not see him during the school day and Ed is ready to do it. He comes into the weight room as much as he can, and I cannot stress this enough, please go to the weight room. It is a new coach and the best way to get to know him is to be there with him and have him see you improve.
The next question I asked him was about his philosophy on coaching. Coach Dewitt believes that “Football is an educational experience and extension of the classroom for me.” and the team has “plans and objectives and [that the team has to] assess [them]selves and [their] abilities” that they have. Ed thinks a team will be successful if they “put the work into the process.” If the Tigers can “buy into what we are doing and develop our skills we will be successful.”
Just the straight truth from the new coach. People have to believe what they are doing will lead to success and if there is a coach that the kids can trust, it would only help that team go through this process quicker.
I prematurely asked how would he get this team to forget the past and make them know that it is a different team. Ed believes differently from me. Ed saw film from last year and thought that the team was “coached well” and they “played hard” He said the injuries were also a big part of the team’s woes (Ahem Berk and Me… mostly Berk). “I certainly do not want them to forget the past. I have had down seasons as a coach and think it motivates me, I hope the players have the same approach to this upcoming season.”
Now as I think differently, I still have to respect his reasoning. Yeah last year was not the best for the now Juniors but they need to use that to motivate them. To be better than my senior year. The players should have that approach according to Coach Dewitt and I do believe it just might work.
Now the most important question of questions, something that every coach needs to answer correctly in order to be successful.
“You can only bring 3 things on a deserted island, what do you bring?” I ask.
And damn were his answers none short of fascinating.
“I am not that clever but a satellite phone seems like a good start.
Maybe a solar charger for that phone.
A book while I wait for someone to bring me home.”
I got to say this is the most analytical approach to this question ever and I absolutely love to see it. Coach Dewitt just wants to get back to coaching Football.
I would say “Ed wants to turn the Tigers into a successful team and he will Dewitt” but that is a really bad joke.
I want to thank Coach Ed Dewitt for doing this interview and wish him well for the upcoming season.