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Kesler is new Lourdes boss
Mon, Jan 31, 2005
By Paul Christian
The Post-Bulletin
Must be something about the Rochester Lourdes class of 1991.
Last July Lourdes named Jim Daly as its new basketball coach.
Today Mike Kesler is the new Lourdes football coach.
Both graduated from Lourdes in 1991.
Not only that, both attended St. Pius Elementary. And they are also best of friends; they were in each other's weddings.
"Jimmy and I talked a long time ago; wouldn't it be something if he came back to coach the basketball team and I were to someday head the football program,'' said Kesler on Sunday night. "Unbelievable as that might have sounded back then, it's true.
"This is my dream job. There's no job out there that I would rather have.''
Kesler has been on pins-and-needles the past few months, waiting for this day.
"There's been a lot of sleepless nights,'' he said.
Marv Peters announced last spring that he would step down after coaching one more year. He was head coach for 10 years and he was in the Eagles' program for 32.
The job was posted soon after the Eagles completed a 7-2 season in October, losing 14-0 to Byron in the Section One, Class AAA quarterfinal.
Peters, who doubles as the Lourdes athletic director, said there were 14 "real solid candidates,'' which were trimmed to three by a five-member search committee.
The three were interviewed Saturday and Kesler was named new coach in the afternoon.
"My first step is to assemble a staff,'' he said, "and then I'll meet with the players. Hopefully we'll keep most of the staff from last year. I think we're heading in the right direction.''
Kesler has been the Lourdes defensive coordinator for the past seven years. Last year he served as the assistant head coach under Peters, although that had nothing to do with him being named as head coach.
"You won't see any drastic changes,'' insisted Kesler, who will turn 32 on Feb. 26. "I don't think you'll see us running the run-and-shoot or you won't see us with an empty backfield. There'll be some changes, but nothing drastic.
"Defensively, you'll probably see what we've been doing the past few years. Everything depends on the personnel. What if we all of a sudden get a 235-pound fullback? That kind of changes everything.''
Kesler said he probably won't assume one of the coordinator roles.
"I'm a strong believer in special teams,'' he said. "We'll wait and see what happens with the staff. Like I said, hopefully there won't be many changes.''
Kesler becomes the ninth head football coach at Lourdes since the school opened in 1941. John Mason and Ray Chase coached from 1941-1947, Bill O'Neill was coach from 1948-50, Ralph Peterson from 1951-55, Wayne Knipschield in 1956, Joe Mayer from 1957-1983, Dennis Nigon from 1984-1994, Marv Peters from 1995-2004 and now Kesler.
Mon, Jan 31, 2005
By Paul Christian
The Post-Bulletin
Must be something about the Rochester Lourdes class of 1991.
Last July Lourdes named Jim Daly as its new basketball coach.
Today Mike Kesler is the new Lourdes football coach.
Both graduated from Lourdes in 1991.
Not only that, both attended St. Pius Elementary. And they are also best of friends; they were in each other's weddings.
"Jimmy and I talked a long time ago; wouldn't it be something if he came back to coach the basketball team and I were to someday head the football program,'' said Kesler on Sunday night. "Unbelievable as that might have sounded back then, it's true.
"This is my dream job. There's no job out there that I would rather have.''
Kesler has been on pins-and-needles the past few months, waiting for this day.
"There's been a lot of sleepless nights,'' he said.
Marv Peters announced last spring that he would step down after coaching one more year. He was head coach for 10 years and he was in the Eagles' program for 32.
The job was posted soon after the Eagles completed a 7-2 season in October, losing 14-0 to Byron in the Section One, Class AAA quarterfinal.
Peters, who doubles as the Lourdes athletic director, said there were 14 "real solid candidates,'' which were trimmed to three by a five-member search committee.
The three were interviewed Saturday and Kesler was named new coach in the afternoon.
"My first step is to assemble a staff,'' he said, "and then I'll meet with the players. Hopefully we'll keep most of the staff from last year. I think we're heading in the right direction.''
Kesler has been the Lourdes defensive coordinator for the past seven years. Last year he served as the assistant head coach under Peters, although that had nothing to do with him being named as head coach.
"You won't see any drastic changes,'' insisted Kesler, who will turn 32 on Feb. 26. "I don't think you'll see us running the run-and-shoot or you won't see us with an empty backfield. There'll be some changes, but nothing drastic.
"Defensively, you'll probably see what we've been doing the past few years. Everything depends on the personnel. What if we all of a sudden get a 235-pound fullback? That kind of changes everything.''
Kesler said he probably won't assume one of the coordinator roles.
"I'm a strong believer in special teams,'' he said. "We'll wait and see what happens with the staff. Like I said, hopefully there won't be many changes.''
Kesler becomes the ninth head football coach at Lourdes since the school opened in 1941. John Mason and Ray Chase coached from 1941-1947, Bill O'Neill was coach from 1948-50, Ralph Peterson from 1951-55, Wayne Knipschield in 1956, Joe Mayer from 1957-1983, Dennis Nigon from 1984-1994, Marv Peters from 1995-2004 and now Kesler.
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