After spending 6 years as the coach at St. Mary High School, head coach Aaron York is ready to start a new journey at Buckeye High School this season. While having great regular-season success during his time there, he was not able to take them as far as he and the team’s fans may have hoped into the playoffs. But he is entering a new atmosphere in Buckeye, Louisiana, and is excited to bring his energy and expertise to the Panthers locker room.
The school that I am coming from, we have played Buckeye for the last 3 years, so I’ve got a pretty good idea about what they are and also what they can and can’t do. So coming in you know you want to put your own spin on it, but also looking back you see the growth of this program the last couple years starting to win, win, win. So you don’t want to change a whole lot, just want to put your own spin on it.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
We had a good summer. Just getting there towards the end of the year, you know you have to implement and start introducing new terminology and new techniques. I think the kids have been very open and receptive to everything we are teaching them and coaching them.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
When asked about some standout players that have stuck out to him in his few months at the school over his new team, he had a list of athletes that he was excited to have on his team and is ready to help them elevate to a new level.
Ashton Hawthorne, he’s going to be a senior cornerback, defensively he’s going to lead that group.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
Kolt Vercher he’s a guy that we are going to use offensively and defensively. Whether it’s at running back, tight end, and at linebacker.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
Looking offensively, our QB that we’ve got, its going to be new to him, but he’s an athletic kid, his dad’s a coach so he’s got that mindset from a coaching standpoint. His name is Kadin Grimmett, he’s had a very good summer learning the scheme and learning what we have implemented. I thought he threw the ball very well in 7-on-7 this summer. A guy that he is going to be throwing to, Haidyn Boone, last year I think he had a little over 1,000 yards receiving. And I can’t leave out a running back who I think led the area in rushing yards last year, Jim Burlew. As we progress, we want to build off what they’ve done moving into this year.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
When asked about his decision to finally leave St. Mary after 6 successful seasons, reaching the playoffs every season, and being a top-10 team in the LSWA state rankings in the past 2 seasons, his answer was focused more on Buckeye’s potential and opportunities for growth rather than being unsatisfied at his old school.
You look at the caliber of kids out at Buckeye, they hang their hat on being tough-nosed, hard-working kids and you know that intrigues you as a coach. They won’t wow you with their athleticism but what they are goin to wow you with is how physically and mentally tough they are. They are a bunch of smart kids. That work ethic, we are going to build off of that.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
The Buckeye coaching staff has 4 returning staff members, but Coach York is also bringing some new faces and new perspectives to the Panthers.
One guy that I’m bringing in with me is Marty Dewees, he’s going to be helping out with my quarterbacks. He was with me at St. Mary’s, so he knows the system, kind of knows the expectations, so it’s good to have that in your corner.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
Coach York knows that their season ahead is no layup and will be filled with stiff competition and some very close games over these next few months. While constant improvement is always the main goal, putting a few wins up this season is something that the coaches and players hold in high regard for entering the new year. After a 1-1 start to the season, the Panthers are still in a good position to accomplish the goals that they have set for themselves.
Looking at it the district is very tough, but to be the best you have to beat the best. Our first goal as a team with the seniors, that we’ve talked about is having a winning season, something that they haven’t had in a long time. Next is a District Championship. It’s not going to be easy, you are going to have to work at it.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
For anyone looking to check out the Buckeye Panthers live in action this year, Coach York details a huge matchup and long-standing ritual for the school against one of their regional rivals, Holy Savior Menard Central High School.
Our biggest game this year is going to be what they call the Squirrel Bowl against Menard. I think it’s about the 4th week of the season, but they say that the atmosphere and the numbers that come out is a big ball game. They circle it on the calendar every year and they have a trophy that goes back and forth between our schools and whoever wins get the trophy for that year.
Buckeye Head Coach Aaron York
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