Coach of the Year
Joel Vincent, Jackson
2003 season: Considered Western Conference South Division contenders in 2002, the Timberwolves finished 4-5. Picked seventh by The Herald and eighth or ninth by some other publications out of 10 division schools for 2003, the Timberwolves swept through the division with a 9-0 record. Jackson qualified for the state playoffs in football for the first time in school history, losing to Lake Washington in the first round to finish 10-2 overall. Vincent, with help from new defensive coordinator Mark Kreutz, drastically changed his offense and defense, simplifying both. The Timberwolves, who allowed 30 points per game in 2002, gave up only 13.7 per contest in 2003. Vincent figured out what kind of weapon Johnie Kirton could be during spring drills and moved him from fullback to tailback. Kirton rushed for 2,675 yards, just one yard shy of the state’s single-season rushing record, behind a solid offensive line coached by Kirk Nicholson.
Background: Vincent was part of Leavenworth High School’s last graduating class (1983). Quarterbacked Leavenworth to consecutive 7-2 seasons and also played basketball and golf. Graduated from Washington State University in 1988 with a degree in Political Science. Began his teaching career at North Middle School. Coached football at North and was an assistant at Everett High School. Was an assistant under Dick Abrams when Jackson opened in 1994, and became the head coach when Abrams went to Marysville-Pilchuck in 1998. Vincent lives in Marysville with his wife Adria and sons Tynan, 7, and Sean, 3.
Comment: “To go from giving up 30 points in previous years to only 13 was huge,” Vincent said. “We had always been able to score points, but hadn’t been able to stop anybody. Mark Kreutz stepped in and made wholesale changes to the defense, and that was a major factor in our success.”
Aaron Coe
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