Name: Jeff Ketron.
School: Class 5A Douglas County Huskies, ranked No. 7 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, National League.
Record: 7-1 overall in 2005, 4-0 league; 29-30 career.
Coaching résumé: Assistant at University of Wyoming, 1989-93; assistant at Twin Falls High School, Idaho; assistant at Overland in Aurora; Huskies head coach since 2000.
Life lines: Age 38, native of Cheyenne. Graduated from Cheyenne Central High School in 1985; graduated from Wyoming in 1990 with a degree in education; working toward a master’s in education from Grand Canyon University; teaches advanced weight training and social studies at Douglas County.
Back in his day: Was a linebacker and defensive end at Cheyenne Central and was all-conference as a linebacker as a senior.
What he has done lately: The Huskies are aware of their history, although they are not reliving it.
“I told the kids, ‘People’s perception of you is not reality,”‘ Ketron said. “All that matters is right now. History doesn’t mean anything.”
He has a point – Douglas County football has only five league titles since opening in 1897.
And while the Huskies won arguably their biggest game in years Saturday – 31-24 on the road against Arapahoe – their next biggest game in years will be Friday against Chaparral. A victory would assure the Huskies of the league’s top seed into the 5A state playoffs as well as their sixth league title.
However, while a modest Ketron, whose team scored late to defeat the Warriors, acknowledges the hunger pangs of a now-ravenous Douglas County following, his approach to feeding it is more about attitude than a fascination with winning.
“The best thing about this whole thing is ever since we’ve been here, it has been about character and how character pays off,” Ketron said. “Our kids see that now, and that’s the biggest thing to me. We had to change some attitudes, and things are paying off for them. Wins come with character.
“Our assistants have got into the minds of these kids and the kids trust our coaches. That’s why we’ve won seven in a row.”
And, probably, why they’ll be playing for one of the school’s rare league titles.
Note
The Broncos high school coach of the week, in its 10th year, will have 10 honorees during the regular season. NFL Charities will present a check for $1,000 to the school’s program. A coach of the year will be announced at the Broncos’ Dec. 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Invesco Field at Mile High, and he will receive $2,000. Coaches are selected from a panel made up of Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post; Billy Thompson, the Broncos; Susie Wargin, KUSA-9; Marcia Neville, KCNC-4; and Andy Lindahl, KKZN 760 AM.
