Wiregrass Ranch is on its fourth head football coach in as many years, and hasn’t had any real success in several seasons.
It sounds like a big rebuilding job.
Good thing the team’s new coach specializes in that kind of project.
“It’s almost as if that’s what my calling card is, to take challenges like this, and try and fix them,” said Mark Kantor, the Bulls’ head coach.
He’s done it before.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)
He coached at Gaither High School for nine years, also coming in as that team’s fourth head coach in four seasons, and he took the team to the playoffs three years in a row. They even won a district title.
Things were even more dire at Hudson High School.
When he walked into that program, it had a 0-24 record.
The team won three games his first season, and accomplished winning records the next two years, adding a playoff berth as district runner-up in his second season.
Coming to Wiregrass Ranch, Kantor had to evaluate what he had on the field.
The young players had a lot of energy and enthusiasm, he said.
But, there was a numbers problem.
With less than 40 players on the varsity team last year, and around 75 in the program over all, it fell far short of the 120 it should have had.
Kantor knew that was an issue as the team headed into the season.
But, he had no idea how many he’d lose to injury.
“In 23 years of coaching, 13 as a head coach, I’ve never seen it this bad,” he said of the injuries to his team. “I go to church every week, so I don’t know what it is.”
The Bulls have lost their starting quarterback and running back, as well as linemen, defensive ends and cornerbacks. But, the schedule won’t wait, and they’ve managed a 2-5 record so far, including a 1-3 mark in Class 7A District 8.
It’s been a challenging year so far, but starting receiver Taylor Bleistein already sees a difference with Kantor at the helm.
“It’s been the best year that I’ve ever had. He’s put in a system that is completely different than what we’ve ever seen,” said Bleistein, a senior who’s been with the program all four years. “This is the best step I think the program has (taken) in a long time.”
It started in the off-season, according to Bleistein. Weight room work was more intense and serious, and the team has grown closer and more focused, despite dealing with injuries on both sides of the ball.
The receiver plans to continue playing after high school, with scholarship opportunities looking likely. However things turn out this year, he sees a bright future for Wiregrass Ranch football.
“I really like the direction that we’re going in as a program. He’s a great guy, he’s a great coach, he knows what he’s doing,” Bleistein said.
A good amount of that knowledge comes from another local coach. Kantor credits Sunlake coach Bill Browning as being a mentor, both when he played for him at Springstead High School, and later coached on his staff.
“He was a motivator. He was as tough as they come,” Kantor recalled from his days working with Browning. “It was a great learning experience, not only to play for him, but to also have an opportunity to coach for him.”
Browning’s Seahawks had little trouble with the Bulls when they faced off on Sept. 11, winning 31-7. But Browning saw Wiregrass Ranch give a lot of effort in the loss, and expects that trait to be a characteristic of Kantor’s team going forward.
“He was a hard-working, 100-percent type player, and he’s coaching the same way,” Browning said of Kantor. “I think he’s doing a great job over at Wiregrass.”
Browning knows a little bit about turning around programs himself. When he took the job at Springstead back in 1987, the Eagles had a cumulative record of 20-70 and had never had a winning season, he said. They would not only earn their first winning record, but also win a bowl game and a district title. And, he’s built Sunlake from the ground up into a perennial contender.
He believes that Wiregrass Ranch is on the right track with Kantor, and they’ll just have to be patient as he creates a winning atmosphere.
Kantor knows that might take some time, and he’s ready to put the work in to make it happen. If he can build on the talent he has, and if they can stay healthy, he believes he has the start of a successful program.
“I truly want to build something here,” he said. “We’re young, but we’ve got a lot more growing to do. There are parts there, absolutely.”
Wiregrass Bulls’ remaining schedule
Oct. 16 at Mitchell
Oct. 23 vs. Gaither
Oct. 30 at Plant
Published October 14, 2015
