A New Era in South Lakes Football

During five seasons at  Park View High School in Sterling, football coach Andy Hill's team made four playoff appearances and earned two district titles.

Hill is now trying to bring the same level of success to South Lakes High School.

Hill, 32, replaces coach John Ellenberger. He takes over  a team that went 5-6 in 2009. The Seahawks started 2009 5-1, then lost five games in a row.

"I'm excited to be the new head coach for South Lakes," said Hill. "We have big goals for the 2010 season, but there is no magic formula. We have to come together as a team, and dedicate each day to working harder and smarter than our opponents."

Hill, a Minnesota native, has shown he is up for a challenge. After his first losing season in 2008, Hill corrected the team's mistakes and led Park View to a winning record the following year.

"During the 2008 season, I learned the most about myself and about running a football program when Park View went 3-7," said Hill.

"I learned lessons that helped me see weaknesses in our program, mistakes on my part, and strategically flaws. When I corrected those mistakes, it helped us lead our 2009 team to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the Division III Region 2 final.

Hill, who will teach history at South Lakes, faces and additional challenge of changing the culture of the South Lake football team. South Lakes' last district title came in 1991 and it has not  had a winning season since 2002.

The players are receptive to a new attitude and, potentially, a winning season, he says.

"We are a lot more of a team." said senior wide receiver Sean Price, one of seven seniors returning to the team. "We are a lot more serious here with Coach Hill. There is not as much joking around. The new coaching staff is great."

The Seahawks "looked good" in their first scrimmage last Saturday against Woodson High School, said Hill. 

"Woodson was 11-2 last year," said Hill. "We wanted to play a good team. Good teams show you what you need to do."

Hill says to turn a program around, a new attitude starts on the field, of course, but continues in the classroom and the community.

"Players, coaches, parents, and the school community are not victims of a given culture, but rather they are the creators of the culture in which they exist," said Hill.

"We are going to ask our players, parents, and school personnel to get on board," he said. "But to simply think that a new coach will automatically change the culture takes away the ownership of all parties involved.  If we all embrace the impact that we can have on empowering this program to success, then we will succeed."

South Lakes will scrimmage at Washington-Lee High School Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The season opener is Sept. 10 at home against Thomas Jefferson.