In this file photo, JC Alexander (11) jukes past a Benjamin Logan tackler during Week 1 of the 2019 season. Alexander will add some varsity experience to new head coach Dylan Wears team. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The Triad Cardinal’s football program has been in flux over the past four years, seeing three different coaches in that time period. Joe Cardinal took the Cardinals to a 6-14 record during his two-year tenure, while Zach Winslow stepped in for the 2019 season and led Triad to a 3-7 record.
At this month’s school board meeting Triad introduced the Cardinal’s newest football coach Dylan Wears and he is hitting the ground running.
WEARS
“We got to work hard and utilize every minute to be ready,” Wears said.
The new grid coach understands that time is at a premium coming into the program just a few weeks before student-athletes returned to the gym to get in shape for the upcoming season.
The Cardinals held their first practices last week, where the focus was on strength and conditioning, something Wears has a strong background in.
The new coach makes his way to Triad after a stint at Olentangy High School as a strength and assistant coach for the their football program. Prior to coaching, Wears played football at Ohio University and at East Knox High School.
After his time at Ohio University where Wears graduated with a degree in exercise physiology, he knew he wanted to be a head coach. Triad had what Wears was looking for.
“I was in the market for a teaching position, the location was good and I’m very comfortable with the small community,” Wears said.
At East Knox Wears learned his football skills as a running back and the importance of football to the community. Wears believes his understanding of the community and the football can help him be successful at Triad.
“East Knox is a Division VI school and is similar in size to Triad, so I’m taking things from Olentangy and East Knox and brining them with me to Triad,” he said.
Along with understanding small schools, Wears believes that sincerity will help him in the short time he has with his new team before the start of the season.
“I like to lead by example,” he added. “Kids are smart. They see that, they will respect that sincerity.”
His example for leading starts in the weight room for Wears. He is coming to Triad during a time that sports are returning during a pandemic that has put one more hurdle in front of the new coach, but Wears says he is taking everything in stride.
“We have to take things one at a time to keep everyone safe,” he added. “We are following the guidelines and maximizing our time.”
With time running thin for Wears he has one main focus.
“My main concern is getting these kids in shape come week one,” he said. “In a short time we have to become a family.”
The Cardinals will open the 2020 season on the road at Benjamin Logan Aug. 28.