Aaron Peck’s football journey at Adair County has come full circle. A four-year player for the Indians, Peck has been named the new head coach for the team. Peck has six years of coaching experience with the program and a longtime dream of being at the helm of his alma mater.
“I’m excited. It’s something that I’ve been wanting to achieve since I was a kid. I’ve always had aspirations to become a head coach and lead a program, but specifically I’ve always wanted to lead Adair County,” he said. “It means a lot to me.”
Athletic Director Tyler Maskill said Peck is dedicated, hardworking and committed to every facet of the football program.
“His passion for this game, his investment in our players and his desire to see Adair County succeed both on and off the field will help shape the future of this program,” said Maskill.
He said Peck’s deep-rooted ties to the program and community will help him build something special.
Peck’s goal is to build the team into a consistently winning program.
“I think you need stability and consistency at the top, and I feel like I am somebody who can deliver that,” he said.
The Indians finished this season with a 5-5 record.
Peck said building a program is not something that happens overnight. It is a process that takes work, but he is ready to put in the work himself along with the other coaches and team members to make Adair County football successful.
“I think you need somebody who truly cares about not just the football team, but the community as a whole and the people within it,” he said.
Peck recognizes there will be adversity while rebuilding the program, but he is invested in the program and its success.
Peck and assistant coach Dylan Feese have been with the group of high school players throughout their high school career.
“I think that means a lot, not only to me and Coach Feese, but also to the players that even with the turnover that there is still some type of consistency on staff for them. A familiar face that is not completely new. I feel like I have a great relationship with all of the players,” he said.
Peck said Feese, Lane Grant and Brady Cundiff will continue to coach the team while looking to add more coaches to the lineup.
“I think we have some gaps to fill and we will be searching for guys to fill those spots that are a good fit and are going to not only develop our players but positively contribute to the culture that we are trying to establish,” he said.
Although football season is over for this year, there is still work to be done in the off-season.
“I am really looking for the players to embrace what the off-season is,” he said. “I feel like they really may not know just because they haven’t really had a full off season from November, December all the way through spring and summer ball leading up to the season.”
Peck met with the eighth graders and the current high school team this week. He said he emphasized to them that the work put in during the off season that nobody sees is what ultimately wins games during the season.
“I’m really just looking for them to embrace what it takes to have a great off season because I think that’s where there’s a lot of separation between winning programs and programs that just aren’t consistently winning.
“Both types of teams have the same goal of winning games and competing for championships, but I think the difference between the two is how they embrace the process of how to get to those goals, which starts in the weight room and a lot of the mundane day to day grind,” said Peck.
One of Peck’s goals is to build a more player-led team and for the players to hold each other more accountable.
“I think coach-led teams can be good, but teams that are led by coaches will never be great. For teams to be great, they have to be player-led,” he said. “I’m looking for some players to step up, be more vocal and hold their teammates to a standard that we want to exhibit.”
Peck said the football program is a direct reflection of not only the school, but also of the community. It is something he wants them to take pride in and for the players to realize that what they are doing is bigger than themselves and the team. It is a representation of the entire community both on and off the field.
“My goal is to develop these student athletes to where when they leave this program, they are set up for success in life after high school in whatever they are choosing to do,” he said. “I just hope when they leave here, we have done our part and we have set them up for success in whatever they may be doing.”
“I think that is the meaning behind sports - to develop people and teach them how to handle adversity. I think that is part of the reason I love football. It is one of the most adverse field games you can play,” he said.
“If we develop these players, not just as players, but as people then wins are a byproduct of that. A good program develops their players and it shows in their record,” he said.
By Amy Pike
amy@adairvoice.com
