After living in Thousand Oaks for most of my life, I can safely say that it is truly home. My father, Ben, was the Cal Lutheran head football coach, so the locker room and football field were my places of familiarity and comfort. Both of my sisters went to Thousand Oaks High and were proud and loud members of the infamous Green Hole. At the age of about 9 or 10, I realized that this game in this town meant more than I had realized; it was about a community and a brotherhood. I remember going to the games on some Friday nights and seeing the giants on the field, thinking that one day I would be able to wear the same Kelly green.
By the time middle school was wrapping up for me, I was about to go on a ride I would never expect for high school. When I started high school, my dad missed working with high schoolers, so he got the job as the offensive line coach at Sierra Canyon.
The Sierra Canyon team was talented, with almost a dozen big-time Division-1 commits, including the 6-foot-6, 307-pound giant, Kenji Swanson. I was fortunate enough to start on some of the special teams for varsity and play a full JV season. But while the level of play and talent were unmatched by anything I’ve seen, the culture was not focused on being a family and being a complete team. I felt distant from the teammates I was supposed to be closest with.
My family thought so too; so we were on the hunt for a better fit for my high school experience. That’s when we found a perfect opportunity for a fresh start.
We would have to go into the unknown to the great state of Florida. Florida football was unlike anything I’ve seen. All grass fields, lightning delays, flash floods, hurricanes, black mud flying everywhere. But we were too far from home and too far from family.
One day, when we didn’t know what the future of jobs or school might hold, my oldest sister exclaimed that the Lancers head football coach job just opened up. Now this could be the homecoming of a lifetime. From the start of spring ball, I was accepted and treated like I’d been there since freshman year. Now I can confidently say the camaraderie, brotherhood, discipline, toughness and overall enjoyment of the game are unmatched by anything I’ve ever been around. Lancer football isn’t just 11 guys on the field making memories of a lifetime, it’s the Green Hole, the unwavering support from the fans, the roar of the crowd on Friday nights, and of course, the celebration at Toppers after all the wins. This community, school, and team mean the world to me and to be able to share it with my family and teammates is something I am extremely grateful for.