Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, June 25, 2009

EAST-WEST NOTEBOOK: Abrams back as East-West coach

Former Stanwood coach hopes to use his second experience as an assistant on the West team to motivate his new players on the Port Angeles football team

By Mike Cane
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- Among the dozens of players involved in this week's East-West All-Star Football Game, none of them wear a Port Angeles helmet. Dick Abrams hopes that trend changes in the next few years.

An assistant coach for the West team, Abrams is also the new head football coach at Class 3A Port Angeles High School. He resigned in January after seven seasons coaching Stanwood and accepted the Port Angeles job late in the school year.

Abrams takes over a struggling Port Angeles program that won one game in 2008 and has endured several coaching changes in the past five years. He is using his role in the prestigious East-West Game to inspire Port Angeles players.

"The kids that I've talked to over there, I tell them that I'm coaching the East-West Game. I say, 'That's a game I'd like you guys to be involved in in the future.' You get to use it as a motivational tool, something to work for," Abrams said Wednesday.

Surrounded by many talented individuals this week, Abrams is enjoying his second East-West experience. "It's fun being around all these guys," he said. "They are some really good coaches and I learn a lot from those guys, and we have great kids."

Abrams was also an assistant coach for the West team in 2000, when the game was in the Tri-Cities. At the time, he was Marysville-Pilchuck's coach.

Abrams is coaching the West squad's offensive linemen this week. The hard-working, no-nonsense players have impressed him.

"I love the offensive line because those guys are the dirt men," said Abrams. "They like to get down and dirty in the game. We have some real excellent players with the O-line who I think are really going to get after it in the game on Saturday."

Issaquah's Dillon Reagan (6-foot-3, 295 pounds) and Skyline's Grant Engel (5-10, 260) have done especially well in practices, Abrams said.

East-West coaches' connection

Abrams, the West team assistant coach, is very familiar with East team offensive coordinator Jim Sharkey. In the 1990s Sharkey taught in the Stanwood School District and at one point he taught Abrams' daughter. Sharkey is now head football coach at Ferris High of Spokane.

M-P LB Sterley out with sickness

Ryan Sterley of Marysville-Pilchuck left the West team because of an illness, West head coach John Ondriezek said. Sterley, a linebacker/running back, practiced on Monday but said he had a sore throat and decided to drop out of the event, Ondriezek said.

Ferndale's Hannah hurt

Spencer Hannah, a wide receiver/defensive back from Ferndale High, sat out part of the West team's Wednesday practice after suffering a pulled muscle. The speedy Hannah should be fine, Ondriezek said: "At the most, he might have to take the morning off (today). We'll watch him closely." The 5-9, 165-pound Hannah could be a game-breaker on Saturday, Ondriezek said. "He's got great hands -- a very disciplined receiver. He doesn't have the size but has quickness," the coach said.

Dance party

During the West team's morning practice Tuesday, Skyline's Grant Engel used a break in the action to demonstrate his celebration dance. Positioned on the defensive line, Engel happily showed teammates and coaches a shimmy he would like to do after recording a sack. Not to be outdone, a few other linemen showed their best moves too.

Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA