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HHF/GID Interview with Fort Wayne Carroll Coach Doug Dinan


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HHF Interview with Fort Wayne Carroll Head Coach Doug Dinan
 
Expectations are high as Carroll returns 6 starters on offense, including 3 year starting QB Jeff Becker, and 8 starters on defense.
 
Hello Coach Dinan and thanks for visiting us here at Hoosier High School Football.
 
Question 1
Coach, 2021 will be Carroll's 7th season in The SAC. You just finished your best 2 year run in the conference, winning 13 of 18 league games in the process. How would you assess the overall status of your program today (depth, talent, team strength,team speed, team unity) compared to where it was when you entered the conference in 2015?
 
Response
We are very excited about the 2021 football season as things seems to return to some degree of normalcy. The 2021 Carroll football team has displayed a great deal of unity and positive team chemistry during the Spring and Summer months. We are pleased with the work that our players have put in both in the weight room and on the practice field. With several returning starters returning from the previous season our expectations elevate for those individuals with Friday night experience both in regards to leadership and performance.
 
Question 2
Getting out of the sectional has been a major challenge for your teams since becoming a member of The SAC. What have been the key obstacles that have kept the Chargers from getting over that sectional hump, and do you feel that the 2021 edition of Carroll football might finally be in position to take that next step.
Response
Without question winning a Conference and Sectional championship are goals that we set as a program from day one. However, these accomplishments are outcomes that we desire. We do not control these outcomes – we can influence these outcomes, but we do not control them. What we can control is the plan of what gives us the best opportunity to be successful. These things or this plan are no different for any program - Work hard every day being better today than yesterday, love your teammates by investing in their lives and placing the priority of the group above self, have an expectation of excellence in everything that you do on and off the field, and believe in all aspects of the program from structure to personnel.
 
Question 3
You put up some off the chart offensive numbers last season , averaging nearly 50 points per game and lighting up some pretty good defenses with your air attack. How much of that offensive production will be returning this season, and what are the major holes you need to fill ?
Response
Offensively we return six starters from last season – Jeff Becker (QB), Luke Carmody (RB), Jameson Coverstone (WR), Cooper Rudolph (WR), Max Malcolm (OT), and Tyler Wiersema (OG). Consequently, the expectation is that these players with experience (five of them being seniors) lead the others filling positions vacated by graduation every day. Returning a starting quarterback for his third year is a major plus obviously for the offensive side of the ball but one player will not win a championship. The productivity or success of the offensive side will be determined by how all 11 players on the field continually improve their individual skills, collectively perform as a unit, and have faith in each other and the coaching staff. Even though we like to throw the football and utilize the skills of our quarterback offensively the game still boils down to can you block the defense across from you, and can you take care of possession of the football.
 
Question 4
Your defense during the regular season was fairly consistent , with the exception of the the two ultra high scoring games against Northside (76-48 Win) and Homestead (70-41 Loss) What is your staff doing to shore up your defense, and do you have any newcomers stepping up in the program that are ready to make a big impact on the defensive side of the ball?
Response
The cliché that defense wins championships never fails. And, if we desire to obtain these outcomes our defense has to play at a very high level. We have eight starters returning from last season – Liam Ottenweller (DE), Aaron Jacquay (DE), Tucker Steely (OLB), Dylan Bennett (ILB), Braden Steely (S), Jorge Valdes (S), Ethan Beaupre’ (CB), and Aaron Stewart (CB). As I also stated with the offense, this experience raises the level of expectation by all players, units, and the entire defensive group. We must play with confidence, a complete understanding of the scheme, speed, physicality, and faith in each other.
 
Question 5
We've spoken with several 6A coaches in the past few weeks, and most have pointed out the tremendous strength and conditioning programs you will find at many of the big Indianapolis schools of The MIC and THe HCC. The general consensus is that Central Indiana is far ahead of the north in this vital area, and until this changes, Indy schools will maintain their hold on the big school state championship. What is Carroll doing in the area of strength and conditioning, and do you expect that your new facilities should help you close the gap against your strongest local as well as downstate competition?
Response
No one can dispute the dominance that the MIC has had on 6A football with schools such as Center Grove, Carmel, Ben Davis, and Warren Central winning championships repeatedly. As many look at this continual dominance often times there are statements made about school size differences thus giving an advantage. However, I look at Center Grove High School and their continual success with the realization that they are very close in student enrollment that we have at Carroll High School. Their success comes from alignment of all levels from youth to high school program, an outstanding weight program, a culture that drives player behavior and work ethic, and continuity of the coaching staff. This is the model that we wish to follow.
 
Question 6
Are you in favor of the full SAC round robin schedule, or would you prefer at least one, or maybe two open dates to give you some flexibility to go after different opponents that might better prepare your team for the postseason?
Response
The SAC is comprised of 10 area schools play a round robin schedule all in conference. Regardless of my desires of scheduling if we are going to be competitive in the conference and in the state tournament we must play at our highest level every week. We have recently seen dominance in the SAC by Homestead, Bishop Dwenger, and Snider and if we desire to contend we must play at the level set by these successful programs.
 
Question 7
The Summit is a very unique conference, encompassing a wide variety of member schools. Small 2A up to mega 6A. Public and private. Urban and suburban. Strong socio economic and poor socioeconomic. Lots of different demographic and ethnic differences amongst the schools. The conference is also well known for developing more than its fair share of high end talent. How would you assess the overall strength of the league heading into the season, and do you see any potential surprises along the way?
Response
Many schools in our conference are returning many talented players on both sides of the ball and will be competitive every week in the SAC. Homestead has had recent conference championships and schools such as Bishop Dwenger and Bishop Luers have also had a great deal of success in the post season tournament. Every team has players that can impact the game and we must be play at a high level every week.
 
Question 8
Coach, you have had your program on a continuous uphill climb now for several seasons. What are your specific team goals for the 2021 season, and are you seeing gains made this summer that give you confidence that you can and will achieve those goals in the fall?
Response
The goals for our program do not change – our calling is to develop boys into men that are successful contributors to society. Our priority will always be to place an emphasis on academics and with our student-athletes being successful they give themselves options and opportunities in the future. In football specifically we want to be playing better every week in preparation for the post season tournament. The outcomes that we desire (TD’s, wins, championships) will take care of themselves if we work hard in the weight room and on the practice field every day.
 
 
Thank you Coach, and best of luck in the coming season.
 
Tim Phillips
Hoosier High School Football
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Edited by DT
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Sounds they have a lot returning, including the QB and two of his receivers from LY.  Might be inexperienced on the offensive line.  

The defense must get better and with 8 returning starters, that will likley happen.  \

Great uniforms.  Remind me of Kansas State

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1 hour ago, DT said:

Sounds they have a lot returning, including the QB and two of his receivers from LY.  Might be inexperienced on the offensive line.  

The defense must get better and with 8 returning starters, that will likley happen.  \

Great uniforms.  Remind me of Kansas State

Unis are very clean and nice.  Sharp!

 

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5 hours ago, DT said:

Sounds they have a lot returning, including the QB and two of his receivers from LY.  Might be inexperienced on the offensive line.  

The defense must get better and with 8 returning starters, that will likley happen.  \

Great uniforms.  Remind me of Kansas State

Quarterback is solid. I thought he would have more offers than he has. So far just Eastern Illinois and Pennsylvania. He no longer has Mason Englert to sling it to, but I'm sure some other guys will step up. 

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1 hour ago, BTF said:

Quarterback is solid. I thought he would have more offers than he has. So far just Eastern Illinois and Pennsylvania. He no longer has Mason Englert to sling it to, but I'm sure some other guys will step up. 

Just Eastern Illinois? Tony Romo’s and Sean Payton’s alma mater? 

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