FeedsFlying high
New Romulus coach destined to lead team
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Matt Ladach will have his chance to lead his former high school team this season.When the Romulus head football coaching position opened up it was practically an act of fate that Matt Ladach would get the job.
The 29-year-old grew up in Romulus, played high school football as an Eagle and for two years was an assistant coach under Mark Woodson, now the district athletic director.
Ladach said he always knew he would end a head coach somewhere and hoped it would be at Romulus.
“Other than my family (football) is my life,” he said. “Since I was a little kid I knew I wanted to be a part of football somehow, some way. I wasn’t big enough or fast enough or anything to play, so coaching is the next best thing. I love football.
“I know the kids here are hungry—they want to win,” he added. “This is a blue-collar town and I grew up here and I always told my wife that if (the Romulus job) ever opens I want to coach there because I know we can win.”
Ladach starred as a guard and inside linebacker for two years on the varsity squad. He graduated in 1995 and headed to Eastern Michigan University, where he earned a degree in Physical Education with a minor in English.
During that time Ladach assisted Woodson from 1998-2000. Then he took a job as a phys-ed teacher at Northville high school. He was also an assistant for six years with three different coaches, last serving with current Northville Coach Ryan Hockman.
“I was up front with Coach Hockman,” Ladach said. “I told him that I wasn’t currently looking for a head coaching job but if the Romulus job opened up I was going to try and take it. And it did.”
Ladach may have his work cut out for him. He inherited a team that has struggled in the Mega Conference for the last five years, even after being moved down to the Blue division last year.
“The earlier coaches have done a good job of teaching the kids technique and helping them mature as players, but so young the last couple of years,” he said. “If you look at the games they played last year, they were right in it with Highland Park and right in there with Inkster and had a lot of close games. I think they’re ready, now.”
Romulus will have some stiff competition to get by in order to make an impact. The Eagles will face Highland Park, Carlson, Crestwood, and Thurston and they have a crossover against Inkster—all were playoff teams last year. Ladach believes it won’t take much to turn around the ailing program, though.
“There’s a lot of talent in this town—it’s a hardworking community,” Ladach said. “I think new blood and a fresh start is all it’s going to take to get the kids going.
“There is going to be a fresh start for the guys and we’re going to be an organized group of guys who are going to be very disciplined,” he added. “I’m going to bring respect and respectability back to Romulus football.”
The new coach has put together a credible staff that he thinks will help and already has helped in achieving his endeavors.
“You can’t get it done yourself in high school football,” he said. “The assistant coaches have been working hard and are doing everything that I asked them to. They don’t get paid a lot of money but they’ve been putting their time in and I appreciate all the work that they’re doing.”
The entire staff will have another young group of players to work with but an experienced core of players will be back.
Among those returning are last year starters Mario Crawford, a versatile junior in the backfield; senior Shane Wells, a wide receiver and free safety with blazing speed; tough senior fullback Jarrel White; junior running back and defensive end Donzelle Carter; junior corner Larry Nastal; senior leader and center and defensive tackle Joe “Rev” Kiesznowski; Division 1 possibility, senior tight end and linebacker Antoine James; and senior wideout/free safety Andre Smith.
Ladach said new additions like junior lineman Devon Parker will be a huge asset to the forming team.
“I think the kids are excited about the new staff coming in,” Ladach said. “They have responded well to the new program and what we’re doing. They’ve been working hard.
“There’s been fairly good turnout in the weight room in the off-season,” he added. “I think about 38 of the kids, quote-unquote football guys, played a spring sport and on top of those 38, we were seeing another 25 kids in the weight room three days a week and that was good to see.”
Now that Ladach has achieved his dream job—coaching at Romulus—he has no desire to anything else but to coach high school athletes.
“I see myself coaching high school kids forever,” he said. “I really like the sense of community. When I was a kid I remember watching my older brother play and remember playing myself. I look back and those are some of the most fun we had. For most kids those are the best memories they’re going to have in their lives and just want to be a part of that.”
Although Ladach knows there is still a lot of hard work to be done he hopes that the community will respect his and the efforts of the players.
“I think the community will be proud,” he said. “They will be proud of our kids and they will be proud to come to watch us.”
