<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3SF3jc_0shaPYvh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3SF3jc_0shaPYvh00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Centreville head football coach Jerry Schultz poses for a portrait during Kalamazoo-area high school football at The Dome Sports Center in Schoolcraft, Michigan. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com</figcaption></figure>MATTAWAN, MI – From his time on the visiting sidelines, Jerry Schultz had always been captivated by the electrifying and exhilarating atmosphere of Mattawan’s Wildcat Stadium under the Friday night lights.Now, he’ll get to bask in it on the regular.Mattawan announced and introduced Schultz as its next varsity head football coach last week, stepping in to take over a program after David Arrasmith’s contract was not renewed earlier this year.“I’ve always enjoyed Mattawan’s atmosphere and the energy that their fans brought,” said Schultz, 36. “It’s an opportunity that if it ever came about, I always felt like ready to take on. I consider myself a small-town coach and that’s the kind of community I see there and somewhere where I think I can make a big impact.”Schultz, a Mishawaka, Indiana native, holds over 15 years of coaching experience and has been Centreville’s head coach for the last four years, a program he guided to a perfect 11-0 and a Division 8 state title during the 2020 COVID year – his first season at the helm.He’d finish with a 29-12 record at Centreville, not missing the playoffs once.Schultz began his coaching career in 2009 in Bloomington, In., but moved to Michigan in 2016 and became Niles’ defensive coordinator for four seasons. That’s where he became familiar with the SMAC, and what he coins the “SEC” of Southwest Michigan high school football.And, of course, it’s where he was taken back by Mattawan’s program.“It’s their effort,” Schultz said. “Even late in the season when things weren’t going well, you could see that the kids were excited about playing and that’s a special group. It’s tough when you’re not having the season you want to have, and you’re still hype and still want to be there giving your best effort.“That really drew me there.”Mattawan last won a playoff game in 2012, the same year they won their only district championship, as they haven’t recorded a winning season since 2017, while also making the playoffs just once over their last four seasons.And in January, the school’s football program was accused of racist and discriminatory comments over a three-year span that, according to a parent letter, forced one Black football player to transfer out of the district. The school’s investigation found no wrongdoing, although it did result in former athletic director Chad Yager’s resignation in January, and Arrasmith’s departure in February.Schultz’s hire comes at a transitional period for the program –– and he says it’s time to lift Mattawan football back into a “positive light.”“I think we need to focus on the positive light of the good things that Mattawan has done because I think there are a lot of good kids here,” Schultz said. “Although what’s been said about them, we need to show the good side of them. I think there’s a lot of good in this community.”So, how does Schultz plan on rectifying the program? It starts with building relationships –– something that’s always came natural to him.“We have to trust each other, and when you have that trust, you can go as far as you want,” said Schultz, a longtime teacher and the current dean of students for Centreville Public Schools. “During that 2020 season at Centreville when it was COVID, I’m doing everything via Zoom. Kids are hearing they won’t have a season and I’m having to build that trust and tell them that ‘listen, it will happen.’“That trust piece leads to more success on the field.”Once that’s in order, Schultz didn’t mince his words on what the expectation for Mattawan is moving forward: excellence in the classroom and annual playoff appearances.Period.“My first goal is always academic all-state as a team – I always start in the classroom,” he said. “Academics is something that we can control and that’s something we accomplished this last year at Centreville. Then from there, let’s focus on a winning record and having a goal of making the playoffs. We’re not going to celebrate making the playoffs, that’s going to be the expectation.”Although his support staff, including offensive and defensive coordinators, have yet to be set, Schultz did say he will implement a new offense – the flexbone triple option – while installing a 3-4 schemed defense. Both are relatively stark changes from the program’s last regime, which saw mostly spread concepts on offense and a 5-2 look on defense.“It’s probably going to look a little more like my Year 3 at Centreville where we threw the ball more and I’m hoping to be a balanced flexbone with a little more play action,” Schultz said. “And on defense, it’ll be a little bit of a transition but it’s one we like to call controlled chaos. If we’re sending blitzes, there’s a purpose behind it.”Schultz’s teams have always shined defensively, especially his 2020 state championship team, where his defense allowed an eye-popping 2.6 points per game.“It’s an exciting defense for them and just like the offense, there’s a lot of movement,” Schultz said. “There’s a lot of opportunity for different guys to get the ball so I think they’ll be excited. It’s very similar to what Portage Central is running but I think ours will have a little bit different flair.”Schultz, a 2006 Penn High School grad, said he’ll still reside in Three Rivers with his wife, Amy, and 9-year-old son, Henry, for the time being, but his son will transfer into Mattawan following the conclusion of this school year.With Mattawan’s enrollment just north of 1,100 students, compared to Centreville’s 251, it’s a big jump for Schultz, one that will see the former Indiana University defensive end climb to the coaching ranks of Division 2.And while leaving Centreville was a difficult decision, one that leaves him with a “full heart”, Schultz said he’s eager and thrilled for the challenge and new chapter at Mattawan –– a place he’s envisioned himself at for quite some time.A place where fun and football go hand in hand.“I want these kids to be competitive, have energy and most importantly, have fun,” Schultz said. “If you’re not having fun playing football, I’m not doing my job. It’s about the experience and yeah, winning games is fun, but it’s about the journey.”</div></body>

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Mattawan hires state title-winning coach to lead football program into new era

MATTAWAN, MI – From his time on the visiting sidelines, Jerry Schultz had always been captivated by the electrifying and exhilarating atmosphere of Mattawan’s Wildcat Stadium under the Friday night lights. Now, he’ll get to bask in it on the regular. Mattawan announced and introduced Schultz as...

Mattawan hires state title-winning coach to lead football program into new era

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