A new head coach will try to continue a recent run of success for the Coe College football program. Steve Staker enters his first season at the helm after former coach Erik Raeburn left to become the new coach at Wabash College.

Being a head coach is nothing new for Staker who spent 35 years as the head coach at Fredricksburg High School. He spent the past four years as Coe’s defensive coordinator. Staker says being a college assistant has made the transition easier, as going from high school to college is a big difference, as there’s more detail to take care of in the college game.

Staker says being on the coaching staff has made the transition easier as he got to know the things that needed to be done in the last four years. The Kohawks have high hopes for the season as a number of experienced players are back from last year’s team that finished 7-3.

Staker says their goals are really high and they have around 15 returners on offense and defense who are excited to get back. He says they should have the personnel to meet their goals. Coe opens the season September sixth at Augustana of Illinois.