Football preview: Lakewood Ranch High

Jamie Jeffcoat is the definition of a team player.

The Lakewood Ranch High senior is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win — even if that means preparing all week to play one position, only to be told hours before kickoff that he is needed elsewhere on the field.

Such was the case for Jeffcoat on more than one occasion last season. And although it was daunting at times, Jeffcoat learned to take it all in stride.

After all, leadership is characterized by one’s ability to join in and support others — in this case his teammates — to achieve the ultimate goal.

“There were times when I would go into game week and I would be running back, and then I’d have to go in at defensive end,” Jeffcoat says. “I remember practicing defense a little bit, so it was definitely overwhelming. It’s a lot easier (focusing) on just one thing.”

Jeffcoat spent the majority of last season playing both ways for the Mustangs. He lined up at running back, slot receiver, strong safety and even defensive end. But it’s on the offensive side of the ball where Jeffcoat is the most comfortable.

Jeffcoat will spend most of this season playing running back with the hope of adding depth to the Mustangs’ backfield. He could also occasionally line up in the slot, as well.

“I like anything on offense the best,” Jeffcoat says. “On defense, you don’t really have set assignments, but on offense you know (exactly) what you’re doing. It’s easier to execute a bunch of things at once.”

Jeffcoat began playing football for the North Manatee Storm when he was 8 years old. Jeffcoat, who occasionally had played a game or two of backyard football, wasn’t interested in playing football. But after his best friend at the time called and asked him to sign up too, Jeffcoat decided to give football a chance.
After one practice, Jeffcoat knew he had found his sport.

“I was hooked from there,” Jeffcoat says. “I had good coaches who knew what they were doing and I got to play with my best friend.”

Jeffcoat played football for Lakewood’s freshman team before moving up to the Mustangs’ varsity squad as a sophomore.

“This is pretty much my second home,” Jeffcoat says. “I’ve got great teammates who are behind my back. We’ve got 17 seniors on the team this year. It’s crazy to see us all stick around and see what we’ve been through these last four years.”

Last season, Jeffcoat helped lead the Mustangs to a 5-5 record. Lakewood fell a game short of advancing to the playoffs, but the Mustangs rallied to win their final game of the season, holding on to defeat Port Charlotte 14-13 and hand the Pirates their first loss of the season.

“No one looked down, and we fought so hard and ruined their perfect season,” Jeffcoat says. “That meant the most to me because I know I would’ve wanted to go out that way.”

Now as he prepares to take the field for his final season in a Mustangs uniform, Jeffcoat is excited about Lakewood’s potential this fall.

“Last year, we were a young team and a (work in progress),” Jeffcoat says. “This year, all of us seniors are coming back and we have so much chemistry. I know this year is going to be different.

“Even though we have a lot of returning starters, the way this team is going to succeed is if the younger guys step up,” Jeffcoat says. “We don’t have a lot of depth, so if the time comes for them to step up and make plays, the young guys need to step up.”

COACH’S CORNER
Mick Koczersut, first year
What are your initial thoughts on this year’s squad?
If ever there was a year for me to have the opportunity to be a head coach, this is it. It’s really very fortunate for me. We have nine out of 11 starters on offense and six out of 11 starters on defense returning. Overall, we’re a pretty experienced team.

The kids have done a very good job offensively. The older kids have stepped up and are becoming leaders. Now, they just have to make that final step. We’ve been 5-5 the past two seasons, and we don’t want to just be average. The players have really bought into that.

What will it take for the team to get past .500 and no longer just be average?
They have to be there for each other, not only on the field but off of the field, as well. They have to come together as a unit. Can they make that one extra play or give just a little more effort? That’s what it’s going to take to be above average.

What would you say is the strength of this year’s team?
On the offensive side of the ball, we are a little stronger. We have so many kids returning.

What’s the one area that still needs improvement?
The defensive line. We graduated a lot of kids on the defensive line, so we’re going to have to play some younger guys. As a group, they are going to have to make big strides this year.

What are your expectations for this season?
We’re going to do the best we can with the group of kids that we have. They just need a little more time. We’re going to change things up more defensively than offensively.

COACHING CHANGE
Timing is everything.

And for Mick Koczersut, the opportunity to tackle his first head coaching position couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

Koczersut, who spent the past nine years as Lakewood Ranch High’s offensive coordinator, was named the Mustangs’ new head coach at the end of July. Koczersut replaces former coach Shawn Trent.

After the Manatee County School Board issued a new policy in which athletic directors could not be the head coach of a sport, Trent, who spent nine years at the helm, decided to remain on as the Mustangs’ athletic director while turning head-coaching duties over to Koczersut.

Koczersut had aspirations of being a head coach early on in his career, but by the time he was ready to be a head coach, Koczersut had two young children and opted to spend his time being a parent first while serving as the Mustangs’ offensive coordinator.

Now, with his son, Mickey, a freshman at Lakewood and his daughter, Madison, entering the eighth grade, Koczersut, with the support of his wife, Diane, is ready to make the leap.

Having been at Lakewood since 2004, Koczersut has developed relationships with the players, coaches and administration, which he sees as an asset heading into the 2014 season. Koczersut will remain the Mustangs’ offensive coordinator while Carlton Hadley will assume Trent’s former role of defensive coordinator.

“I already had a chemistry with all of the coaches,” Koczersut says. “There were no huge changes to our systems, schemes and how we do things. Coming in, it wasn’t very hard at all.”

A native of Indiana, Koczersut was a center at Franklin College. Upon graduation, Koczersut landed his first coaching job at Palmetto High in 1994 under then head coach Bob Bowling. Koczersut served as the Tigers’ offensive line coach for two seasons before spending the next six years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“It’s no longer just about the Xs and Os of football,” Koczersut says. “The relationships you build with the coaches and players are more important.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH
31 - Jamie Jeffcoat, senior, running back
“Jamie played defense and then we switched him over to offense,” coach Mick Koczersut says. “He’s been a complete team player. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and more. He does a great job of getting the kids motivated.”

8 - Chad Rex, senior, quarterback
“This is his third year, and we expect him to do good things,” Koczersut says. “He’s matured tremendously since his sophomore year. He’s gotten much better at being a total team leader and that comes with experience and being more comfortable (in the offense).”

2014 Schedule
Class 7A-District 10

Aug. 29 at Southeast
Sept. 5 vs. Jesuit
Sept. 12 vs. Bayshore (7 p.m.)
Sept. 19 vs. Braden River*
Sept. 26 vs. Charlotte
Oct. 2 at North Port*
Oct. 10 BYE
Oct. 17 at Palmetto*
Oct. 24 at Riverview
Oct. 31 vs. Sarasota*
Nov. 7 at Port Charlotte

*Denotes district game; all games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted

BY THE NUMBERS
2004 - The year first-year head coach Mick Koczersut came to Lakewood Ranch after spending eight seasons as an assistant coach at Palmetto High.

4 - The number of years since the Mustangs earned a playoff berth.

14 - The number of points Lakewood scored in its final game of the 2013 season to edge past Port Charlotte 14-13 and hand the Pirates their first loss of the season.

34.4 - The average number of points the Mustangs scored in their five wins last season.

Click here to view the LWRHS 2014 roster.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].