In the world of sports, seasons come and go, players move on to bigger and better things and coaching staffs change to adapt to the sports games that are ever evolving. LB is no exception to these transition stages of teams as the LB community has seen Division 1 players leave, state championship-caliber teams disband and this year a major change in the coaching staff.

When comparing last year’s football coaches to this year’s staff, there are multiple names missing and several new names added to the roster.
“We have four new guys helping out,” football head coach Jim Poythress said. “They are a little bit younger, and they bring a lot of emotion and spirit.”

The coaches who have been added to the team are defensive assistant coach Chris Rainey, linebacker coach Rickey Lewis, offensive line coach Brendan Ginley and receivers coach Dante Davis, who was brought on to the coaching staff partway through the season.

These new coaches provide the team with valuable knowledge and passion for the game. Lewis in particular is familiar with the way in which the program works, as he has worked with Poythress before.

“I played under coach Poythress at Garfield High School,” Lewis said. “It was his last year [at Garfield] before he came here.”

Along with the new coaches this year, LB still has several returning coaches who have been part of the program for many years. These coaches include defensive coordinator Billy Edwards, defensive coaches Frank Gilmore, Mel Morgan and Leland Lambert and offensive coaches Steve Price, Lonnie Lambert, BJ Quigley and Greg Quigley.

“There’s familiarity with a lot of the staff,” Poythress said, “but then there’s the infusion of some young bucks.”

While the new coaches may be young, what they lack in experience they make up for in drive and the desire to constantly improve.

“What I like about being here is that everyone wants to learn and improve,” Lewis said. “One thing I want to bring [to the program] is more intensity and hustle.”

Once the work is put in, the drive to win takes over.

“No. 1 is to make the playoffs,” Ginley said, “and then you go from there. Then it’s region and on.”

Though there are major changes to the football program, the mindset for the season remains as it always has been for the team.

“Our goal is to win that game,” Lewis said. “I look forward to the next game, but win that game right there and get better every day, every week. Don’t worry about that next game because you might not get there.”

With the intention to focus and win the game at hand, the Bruins look to continue their winning streak and improve with each coming team that they face.

“We’re continuing to tweak the system and try to find the things the players do well,” Poythress said, “and throw out the things that have not gone so well.”