Football Alberta has honoured Cochrane’s storybook 2016 football season by celebrating three coaches whose passion and commitment to the game helped propel their players to provincial championships in two separate tiers.
“It’s a great honour,” said Cam Cote, who along with co-coach Darryl Korody, led the Bow Valley Bobcats to their first Tier 4 Alberta Schools Athletics Association title in 14 years. “You have to be proud of these accomplishments.”
Last week, Cote and Korody were both named Tier 4 Coaches of the Year by Football Alberta, while longtime Cochrane High School Cobras coach Jim Forrest was given the same distinction for Tier 3.
Football Alberta executive director Brian Fryer said the organization considers not only teams’ winning records, but also individual candidates’ past history with the sport and their previous accomplishments before making the final decision.
“There are so many things involved,” said Fryer. “Bow Valley snuck through the radar most of the year – they played great football … and Cochrane High is 25-0 in high school football: they’ve had a really good run.”
Cote has coached every level of community football in Cochrane over the last two decades – including a stretch at Cochrane High before moving over to Bow Valley two seasons ago.
He said the success of last season’s Bobcats – who bested the Stettler Wildcats 22-13 at Calgary’s Hellard Field in November to clinch the provincial banner – started with a shift in perspective at the beginning of the season.
“The kids bought in … We didn’t just make a run at the playoffs. We played good football and we kept getting better every week,” said Cote, adding he gives a lot of credit to school administration for helping get the team over the finish line. “We get so much support from the school and the teachers. It starts at the principal, who gives us free rein to run the football program how we see fit … I think it’s an award for the whole program.”
Cote also passed along congratulations to his former benchmate Forrest, whom he worked with during his time at Cochrane High.
“He’s a great coach and a very deserving winner,” said Cote.
Forrest has been coaching football since his first year out of high school in the fall of 1976. The last 18 seasons have been spent working with the Cochrane Cobras – as well as teaching English at the school.
Forrest said coaching football is “the ultimate kind of teaching.”
“You’re teaching something that you’re passionate about to others that are also passionate about it,” he said, adding he loves the game for its ability to be inclusive to many different types of kids.
“It’s the most democratic of sports. There’s places for every kind of players … it’s the ultimate team game. It’s also a fun coach’s game – there’s lots of strategy.”
Forrest attributes Cochrane High’s accomplishments – including 14 provincial titles – to a consistent group of coaches: in addition to his own nearly two decades on the squad, defensive co-ordinator Bruce O’Neill has been with the school for 30 years, with head coach Rob McNab and other defensive co-ordinator Ken Polson also each logging about 20 years a piece.
“I think that’s the key to the success. We don’t rest on our laurels – we’re just continually trying to learn and get better. We’re continually trying to change and improve things,” said Forrest of the group, who are tight off the field as well as on. “We do get along and we are friends. We’ve been lucky.”
Forrest said he’s most proud of the number of youth who have gone on to play post-secondary football – including Dylan Gingrich-Hadley, Zach Rabe and Kane Boklaschuk, who are all headed to the University of Calgary Dinos next year.
“We’ve had a pretty remarkable record of sending kids on to the next level,” he said. “It’s good to see the kids keep going and keep track of where they go.”
Forrest will return to the Cochrane High field next season, and Cote has committed to backing the Bow Valley Bobcats again as well. Cote said, no matter if it’s a win or lose season for his team, he’s excited to continue the tradition of learning and growing alongside his young players.
“I do it for two reasons: obviously, a love of the game … and I really enjoy these kids,” he said. “It’s nice to see them mature and just enjoy each other. We have a lot of fun together.”
