Having worked more than half of his coaching career as an assistant coach for two all-time Ohio Valley greats — George Strager and Jim Thomas — Wheeling Central Catholic High School’s Mike Young continues to carve out an impressive resume of his own.
Saturday night’s 14-7 victory against Williamstown in the West Virginia Class A championship game gave Young and his highly talented cast of players their second straight state title since Mike was elevated to the head coaching position following the death of Coach Thomas.
The victory also secured the Maroon Knights first 14-0 record season, continuing the Wheeling parochial school’s football legacy that includes three W. Va. championships in a row, five this decade and six crowns overall. Thomas also guided Wheeling Central to a state title in 1979 when the Maroon Knights competed in the Class AA Division.
Standing in the middle of the field at Wheeling Island Stadium while still accepting congratulatory hugs from his assistant coaches, players and fans Saturday night, Young didn’t hesitate to respond when asked about the role those two former mentors have played in his career.
“They were more than just great friends,” Young said. “I looked at Coach Strager as my second father. I have four brothers and I considered ‘J.T.’ as a fifth brother. In terms of our relationships, we were as close as close could be and that was because of how much we admired and respected one another.
“We were close enough to be able to say that this is right and this is wrong whether it was me telling them something or they were pointing out things to me.
“Coach Strager and Coach Thomas both had a great influence on my life, not just in football. They were also two of the greatest coaches the Ohio Valley has ever seen. Maybe someday when I am finished with all this, people might say that I was a good coach. If that happens, much of the credit belongs with them.”
One thing Young refuses to worry about and really doesn’t have to be concerned with is his own coaching legacy. The man was a winner to his family and friends long before the first time he put a whistle around his neck 36 years ago.
In 11 seasons as a head football coach, nine at St. Clairsville after he succeeded the retired Strager, Young owns a 75-45 record. He had a playoff team with the Red Devils in 1988 that, ironically, won its first-round game against Dover at Wheeling Island Stadium.
In addition to coaching football, Young coached the St.Clairsville boys’ basketball team for two seasons and was the tennis coach for a dozen years. He had a sectional championship team in the hoop sport and two of his tennis teams won Ohio Valley Athletic Conference laurels.
However, coaching has never been about anything he has or hasn’t accomplished. Young understands players win games and it is up to coaches to put the youngsters in the right position to be successful.
Having been a student at Wheeling Central and a coach there since 1996, Young is quick to spread the credit to the Maroon Knights players, the assistant coaches and the school administration which regards character building to be just as important as winning football games. “Xs and Os don’t last,” Young said. “Moral values and character do. My players don’t have to become doctors and lawyers after football to be successful in life. I’ll be proud of them if they go on from here to be respected members of their communities and provide for their families.”
Young earned Strager’s respect for his ability to motivate players. Even during the times when he’s had to pass on some constructive criticism to a player, Young also knows how to quickly build that player back up so he would be ready to go on the field and perform well.
Halftime of the state championship game against Williamstown provided another example of his ability to get maximum effort from Central’s players.
With the score tied at 7-7 after the Yellowjackets had scored the tying TD 3 seconds before intermission, Young’s first inclination was to go into the locker room and chew out his players for a late lapse of concentration. Instead, he patted them on the backside and told them to forget what had happened and go out and play better in the second half. His message was that Central was going to get a break some place that would help win the game.
While that break never quite occurred, the Maroon Knights offense took matters into its hands and put together a 5-minute plus, 68-yard drive for the winning touchdown that was scored by Brandon Tucker on a 14-yard run with just 1:59 to play. Chris Martin, who had scored Central’s first TD on an option run after taking a pitch from quarterback Alex Peluchette, also had several big stick-moving runs in that decisive drive.
Central, which had rolled past most of its opponents during the regular season and the first three rounds of the playoffs, was just as proud to come away with a seven-point win in the state finals.
“Give credit to Williamstown,” Young pointed out. “They played their hearts out and made it a great championship game. The mark of being a great champion is having the ability to overcome adversity and being able to rise up as we did on that winning touchdown drive. I think it spoke more about our team’s senior leadership that we were able to win a close game instead of a 34-0 blowout.
“Our defense also did a great job to hold Williamstown, which has an explosive offense to just seven points,” Young noted.
A special moment for Young occurred long after the cheers of last Saturday night’s exciting victory had ended. He joined the coaches and his family for a quiet gathering at Generations Pub where they could relax and enjoy their own company.
Sunday morning, the Young family went to church as they usually do and then attended a pancake breakfast at the school.
“It was a great ride for our football team,” Young said. “Everybody loves a winner and we can take our bows right now. At the same time, it won’t be long before we get back in the weight room and we can look forward to coaching a new group of kids.”
Because of the number of runaway victories during the 2006 season, every player on the Central varsity roster lettered.
“Our second- and third-team kids got enough quarters to letter and that varsity experience they gained will be very helpful next season.”
The Maroon Knights also had 26 freshman players who enjoyed a 4-2 season and Young is hopeful all of them will be varsity candidates next season.
“It doesn’t matter where you coach, you win with numbers. If the kids come back with the same kind of attitude and leadership our 2006 seniors provided, we have a chance to keep this thing going a while longer,” he concluded.
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Super Six
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