West Seattle Wildcats head coach Jeff Scott has a philosophy about coaching that's more like that of an educator. "When I started with the program we had 17 players. We went into camp this year with 86 players and so we just keep wanting to build and build and build step by step."

Last year they had 6-3 record.

"I just think we just need to keep taking steps going northbound," Scott said.

Building on a winning season in a high school program means relying on returning players. He has 13 coming back including three quarterbacks, starter Axel Johnson a 5'11" 155 lb Senior, Bo Gionet a 6' 4" 175lb Junior, and Jeremy Liu.

He's also happy with 5' 11" 170 lb Elijah Brady, "He has offers from about 15 D1 schools," who plays Cornerback and Mason Kallinger a 6' 2", 215 lb linebacker who Scott said has two scholarship offers already waiting.

"We've got a couple of sleepers too," he said.

But even with the emphasis on winning, for Scott it's about education and building character. "The most important thing for us is just making sure we have good relationships with our young men and build from there."

The Wildcats have an 11 member coaching staff which means Scott generally stays out of specifics.

"I oversee everything, so I'm looking at all aspects. There are certain things I want to look for. Like when I see a set I'm looking to see if we're gonna pass. What kind of pass protection? Are they stepping correctly?  Are the receivers running their right routes, even though their position coach will probably say something about that."

He describes his coaching style as "Straight, fair and consistent."

The program is kind of magnet for some students who come to watch and even for former players who have friends on the team. On Thursday Jaxton Helmstetler, an outside linebacker who graduated last spring and who is taking a red shirt year at Portland State, stopped by. Helmstetler was a multi sport letterman in his West Seattle HS career. He was greeted warmly by his friends, "Mr. Awesome is here!" they shouted and came over to give him a fist bump.  Helmstetler is in pre-med and plans to become a dentist. In the short term though he is practicing with his new team and plans to play next year.

Noting that sports as part of a process of education, start much earlier than high school, Coach Scott said, "The Junior Wildcats are the key to our success," and asked Ernest Phillips, Past President of the West Seattle Junior Wildcats, also there for the practice to speak about what that program does.

Phillips, who is now Head of Communications for Seattle colleges, ran the junior program for seven years.

Phillips said that while football builds character, physical fitness and mental toughness it does something more. "I worked to make sure they have two hours where they're getting positive reinforcement, where they feel safe so they can come and be with their colleagues and learn about football in a safe environment."

By teaching players in an environment where they get support and direction they learn the most important lesson of all, "not to quit, ever." said Phillips.

He also spoke about the fact that over the last decade or so the ability of the school district to meet the equipment needs of the players has fallen behind.  "First of all, equipment gets dated and you go through it quickly. like pads need to be replaced."

"We have a tackling wall that we use. I think they are $1500 each. We only have two. And they're wearing out so we'd love to have another one, and a helmet could go anywhere from $150 to $300.

Of course if you want the kids safe, that's every two years. So maintenance by itself is a lot of money."

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The Seattle Public Schools budget, as always prompts questions about who gets the money and why and even though football isn't getting enough, say the coaches and players, it still gets most of the attention.

"Why does football get all the notoriety?" explained Phillips, "Because the funds that you get from football usually support all the other athletic clubs. Swimming doesn't pay for itself. Baseball doesn't pay. Football is an expensive sport. It's a famous sport and it's the fall sport. It's coming on when you come back to school, you have homecoming. So it's it's the fall sport, right or wrong. 

I don't mind that football goes and pays for girls track and it pays for girls volleyball because those sports should exist.

But the principle is the same is that, you know, like they say, it's hard to get people to rally around the chemistry professor."

At the close of practice the team gathered under a row of trees as the coaches reviewed the day. Previously, Coach Scott had flashed some anger and he wanted to clarify. 

"Hey guys, well done today," said Coach Scott. "When we make an adjustment and you don't hear that adjustment it costs us a football game  Us Coaches we live with that. Like my son told me when he came into coaching. You play football, through your players. When you can't play anymore, whatever you tell them, they play through you. so I got emotional, but I still want you to understand, keep your respect in the game, stay humble, stay hungry and let's go whip some butt on Friday."

The Wildcats go up against traditional powerhouse Renton at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex on Friday at 7pm.

2022 Season Schedule