SEBASTIAN — New Sebastian River High football coach Kevin Pettis isn’t just a strength and conditioning coach at heart. He’s also a history buff who has taught AP History in the past.
When the Sharks begin the season with Friday’s Kickoff Classic at home against Jensen Beach, Pettis hopes to forge a successful path. He’s won virtually everywhere he’s coached.
“I love colonial America and the western movement,” said the former Troy State running back, who will turn 44 in November. “My wife (Kandie) is a Blackfoot Indian, and I’m fascinated by the Nez Perce, the Plains Indians and the Navaho. The chiefs were such great warriors and such great strategists. It’s a lot like football.”
Sebastian River has lost 24 seniors from last year’s team, which finished 8-3 and won the school’s first district title in football. Only 13 players return from that squad. The school held Photo Day Saturday at Sharks Stadium.
“We’ve got a ton of teaching to do,” said Pettis, who left Crestview High in Florida’s panhandle after two seasons to accept the post at Sebastian River. “The kids are (primarily) all backups from last year. They have a great opportunity to make a name for themselves. I want them to be in it for the long haul. This is not a quick fix. I want them to focus on the process.”
Pettis’ tenure at Crestview was the least favorable of his previous stops. The team finished 4-6 in each of his two seasons. Before that, he inherited an 0-10 team at DeLand and guided the Bulldogs to the Class 6A title game in his second season. At Dr. Phillips, he helped the school earn regional playoff berths in his second and third seasons. Dr. Phillips was the state runner-up the year after he left to take the DeLand job. Pettis also was the head coach at Pacelli Catholic in Columbus, Ga. and an assistant coach at McPherson College in Kansas.
In 13 seasons as a high school football head coach, Pettis has compiled a 104-53 record.
“I’m done; I’m tired of moving,” said Pettis, who served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne after graduating from Troy State. “I love Indian River County. I’ve loved everywhere I’ve lived, but I have that nomad’s spirit. I’m always looking for another challenge. I haven’t disliked any place, but the only place I did not enjoy was Crestview. It was a difficult place.”
Sloan Drummonds will start at quarterback for Sebastian River. Nick Cooper and Matt Jones will alternate carries at running back, with Jones lining up at wide receiver from time to time. Deon Jones and Damian Strong will start at wide receiver.
“Both Matt and Nick are physical, and Deon and Damian are speed guys with great hands. They fit very well together,” Pettis said. “Our offensive line is a work in progress. I don’t know who is going to start.”
Pettis has been impressed with the early play of Marcus Norman on the offensive line. Soccer players Iggy Severino and Justin Eidem are competing for both the starting role at placekicker and punter.
“We’ll run a multiple-pro offense,” Pettis said. “We’ll try to go 50-50 (run and pass percentage) to be balanced. We’re trying to match the offense to fit the personnel.”
Zach Finnegan is penciled in as the starter at noseguard in the Sharks’ 3-4 alignment. Jones probably will play in the defensive backfield in addition to his duties as a wide receiver.
“The 3-4 helps us adjust to the multiple receiver sets,” Pettis said. “Everyone runs the spread, but you still want to stay true to the integrity of the defense.”
Steve McAnelly will be the offensive coordinator, and Billy Miller will be the defensive coordinator. Jerry Kaminski will be the defensive line coach, Nathan Burch will guide the offensive linemen, Kevin Morris will coach the linebackers, Vince Falcone will guide the kickers, Brent Albert will coach the outside linebackers, Brad Butler will guide the receievers and Anthony Simmons will coach the running backs.
“For the most part, I’m happy (with the early practices), Pettis said. “As much ground as we’ve covered, I’m happy with that. No. 1, we needed to get the right coaches in and to buy into what we’re doing. We need the players to buy into what we’re doing, the community to buy into what we’re doing and the parents to buy into what we’re doing. That might be the toughest to overcome, but I think everyone is buying into what we’re trying to do.”
Pettis wants to encourage athletes who might specialize in a different sport to give football a try.
“We’ve got to make sure that we get all the kids that belong to us,” he said. “We’ve got kids who walk the hallways that should play. Football can make them better baseball players, better wrestlers and better basketball players. At Dr. Phillips, we had few players who played other sports. At DeLand, we started sharing players. We had several baseball and basketball players. Dr. Phillips had 5,000 students, so that was a big difference. When small-town programs get to share kids, that’s not a bad thing.”
Despite a possible personal bias, Pettis believes football is a special sport.
“Football teaches what nothing else can,” he said. “If it was easy, everyone would play. It’s tough. The heart it takes to play football makes you stronger for other sports. Family farms are gone; this is the last place on earth where you can make men and forge men. It’s as close as the military you can get without being in the military. I think everyone should serve in the military at some point.”
Every two years, the Florida High School Athletic Association realigns the districts around the state. This fall, Sebastian River moves into Class 7A, District 12 with Melbourne, Viera, Martin County and Eau Gallie.
“I think it’s good for us,” Pettis said. “I like being in a northern district. Games will be closer and we should get good gates. I have no preconceived ideas about the teams. Sebastian River is not good enough to look ahead. Every game needs to be our Super Bowl. On Friday night, there are no easy wins. Every game is tooth and nail.”
After the 7 p.m. Kickoff Classic at home against Jensen Beach, Sebastian River will open the regular season on Friday, Aug. 30 with its annual clash at the Citrus Bowl in Vero Beach against the Vero Beach Indians. The first of four district games will be Sept. 30 at home against Viera.
Pettis replaces Randy Bethel who was let go after 16 seasons. Bethel posted an 84-77 record during his tenure with the Sharks. Sebastian River won the Class 6A, District 14 title and lost to Heritage, the District 13 runner-up, 29-0 in the first round of the state playoffs.
