Greg Jachym and Ardrey Kell football ready for the Friday night lights
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For high school football enthusiasts, the arrival of August brings much excitement. But there are few as eager for Friday night lights to return as Ardrey Kell football coach Greg Jachym. When we interviewed him this July, he was busy preparing the team for their upcoming season.
鈥淪tarting in June, we hold three-hour practices four times a week,鈥� Jachym said. 鈥淥nce August hits, it鈥檚 five days a week.鈥�
In the 94-degree heat, his players were conditioning and practicing drills without complaint. Despite the blazing sun overhead and the evident physical challenge of the practice itself, there was a sense of enthusiasm.
Part of that stems from the team鈥檚 memory of last summer, when regularly-scheduled practices were canceled due to the pandemic. Coaches were forbidden to have face-to-face interaction with players, and all school-sponsored extracurriculars were still banned.
鈥淚t was frustrating for a lot of the players,鈥� Jachym said. 鈥淲e鈥檇 start and get geared up, only to be told a week later to shut down again. There was a lot of unpredictability at play.鈥�
However, the Ardrey Kell football team refused to let those challenges stand in their way. Several seniors and team captains stepped into their leadership roles and held voluntary, unofficial practices from July-February. Rising senior quarterback Jack Curtis was among those leaders.
鈥淲e acted as our own coaches during that time,鈥� Curtis said.
It鈥檚 that sense of drive and personal responsibility that impresses Coach Jachym most about this year鈥檚 team.
鈥淭heir work ethic and determination are remarkable,鈥� Jachym said. “They are so team-oriented, and there鈥檚 not a lot of egos there. It carries them a long way.鈥�
Particularly striking is the players鈥� work in the weight room.
鈥淲e have one of the best strength and conditioning coordinators in the state in Brian Bosman,鈥� Jachym said. 鈥淭he players have really bought into what we do there, and it makes a huge difference on the field.鈥�
This buy-in was particularly important last year, as the strain of the irregular season took its toll.
鈥淎s coaches, we really had to reinvent the way we did things,鈥� Jachym said. 鈥淲e held Zoom offensive and defensive meetings, gave online quizzes, put up videos for the players, everything we could think of to keep them engaged and get them prepared without face-to-face interaction.鈥�
It was a delicate balance, because the players were already spending a lot of time online to complete their schoolwork.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want them to be burnt out,鈥� Jachym said.
This season, the opening game carries with it even more excitement than usual. Not only are capacity restrictions lifted for the crowd, but the first game is against arch rival Providence High School.
鈥淚t will be a great way to start the season,鈥� Jachym said with the eagerness evident in his voice. 鈥淏oth fan bases will show up in full-force, and it鈥檚 gonna be a great atmosphere to play in.鈥�
The players we spoke to were excited to play in front of a crowd again.
鈥淭he energy makes a big difference,鈥� rising senior defensive back Ryan Stevens said. 鈥淭he crowd, the band, the noise鈥攚e hear it all! Even the parents, whether we like it or not!鈥�
His teammate Mike Koepke agrees.
鈥淭he crowd creates a different experience for us,鈥� Koepke said.
Though all of the guys are looking forward to fans filling the stands, some of them become less aware of the background once the play clock begins. Quarterback Jack Curtis is among them.
鈥淥nce the game starts, I鈥檓 in my own head,” Curtis said. “My field of vision condenses to between those white lines. To me, it doesn鈥檛 matter if I鈥檓 playing in front of 20 people or 20,000 people. My focus is on what I鈥檝e got to do.鈥�
Defensive back Jamier Moten has a similar outlook.
鈥淚 enjoy the crowd a lot, but I create my own energy,鈥� Moten said. 鈥淚鈥檓 self-motivated.鈥�
One thing all the players can agree on is the impact that Greg Jachym has had on the football program as a whole, and on them as individuals. Over his 14 years on the coaching staff, including the past two as head coach, he helped create a culture of unity and trust among players and coaches alike. One of the ways he does this is by encouraging the players to spend time together outside of games and practices, says junior defensive lineman Khyler Watson.
鈥淚t gives us a sense of brotherhood,” Watson said. “We hold summer football camps for middle schoolers, and we work out together with teammates on our own time.鈥�
Moten鈥檚 face lights up when talking about Jachym.
鈥淐oach always has my back,鈥� Moten said. 鈥淚f I make a mistake, he鈥檚 always encouraging me and lifting me up. He came in and flipped the whole program.鈥�
When asked what he think made the biggest impact when Jachym took over, Moten doesn鈥檛 have to think long.
鈥淗e talks to us one-on-one,鈥� Moten says. 鈥淗e takes the time to develop those individual relationships.”
Koepke echoes his sentiments.
鈥淗e really got to know each of us as individuals, and since he鈥檚 been a part of the program for so long, there was already a sense of trust there,鈥� Koepke said.
Trust. Brotherhood. Family.
These words kept coming up as we spoke to Coach Jachym and his players. It鈥檚 what defines this Ardrey Kell team, and the broader community that it unites.
鈥淲e have tremendous support from our school鈥檚 faculty, staff, coaches, and athletic director Brian Knab,鈥� Jachym said. 鈥淥ur student section is always packed and making lots of noise. They go all out participating in themed nights. People from all over attend, and it鈥檚 a real family environment with little kids playing around behind the bleachers, parents supporting from the stands. We have one of the best atmospheres in Charlotte for high school football because of the support from the community.鈥�
We love Friday night lights not just because of the exciting plays on the field, but also because of the sense of being a part of something bigger than ourselves鈥攍ike these young men said: a big family. And at the end of the day, isn鈥檛 that what it all about?
鈥淲ell, we鈥檝e never won a state championship before, so maybe that too,鈥� Curtis said.
The Ardrey Kell Coaching Staff:
Greg Jachym – Head Coach
Breon Holmes – Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
Carter Greene – Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
Mark Harman – Quarterbacks
Logan Lorenzen – Wide Receivers
Kip White – Running backs
DJ Harrison – Offensive Assistant
Andre Noel – Defensive Line
Franklin Raymond – Cornerbacks
Brandon Stokes – Defensive Assistant
Brian Bosman – Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
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