This is Amrine’s first season as a high school football coach, but his coaching résumé is not short.
He has coached college football for more than 15 years, including stops at Central Washington and Eastern Washington. Most recently, he spent four years as defensive backs coach, recruiting coordinator and academics coordinator at Idaho State.
A native of Castle Rock, Amrine, now heads up his first high school program. He excited about what’s in store, starting with the Tigers playing host to Franklin Pierce on Friday night.
“I’m really impressed with how hard they’re working,” Amrine said. “We’re really lucky we have such a strong senior core. They’ve really opened up to the new concept we brought in.”
That new concept includes a different offense (Pro) and defense (Multiple 40), as well as some new faces on the coaching staff. Three of Amrine’s coaching assistants have had experience as a high school head coaches – Hal Gronseth, Wayne Compton, and John Hallead, who played for Amrine at Central Washington. Hallead is the Tigers’ offensive coordinator after spending the prior three years as Onalaska’s head coach. He’s also Oakville’s new athletic director.
The Tigers are adjusting to the new pro-style offense Hallead and Amrine are instilling after the program ran the Wing-T offense under longtime head coach John Schultz. A benefit to the pro-style is that the ball will be in different players’ hands.
“We’re going to spread it around and get it around to different guys,” Amrine said.
Centralia, coming off a third-place finish in the Evergreen Conference and a 7-3 record overall in 2010, has 11 returning starters, all seniors.
Mason Musselman and Justice Tasby will see lots of time at tailback. Musselman ran for 418 yards on 68 carries and scored six touchdowns in 2010, when he played behind EvCo co-offensive MVP Zack Baldwin (2,000 rushing yards in 2010).
“Both kids have good vision,” Amrine said.
Ryker Gronseth, Everett Cooper, Kyle White and Dayna Squibb anchor an experienced offensive line.
Defensively, Amrine said linebackers Connor Knudsvig, Tony Stulken and Taylor Lively will be strong factors. Cole Housden, a second-team all-EvCo defensive back, was in on 46 tackles last season.
A big question mark remains at quarterback. Three players are vying for the job – Levi Studeman, Joey Blaser and Justin Reyna. Armine said a decision likely won’t be made until after the Franklin Pierce game or later. Three of the Tigers’ first four games are against non-league opponents.
“That’s the $100 question,” Amrine said. “We’ll play a few kids early. Until we play live action, we won’t know.”
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com
Home games in CAPS. All games at 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 2: FRANKLIN PIERCE
Friday, Sept. 9: at North Kitsap
Friday, Sept. 16: BLACK HILLS*
Friday, Sept. 23: at R.A. Long
Friday, Sept. 30: NORTH THURSTON*
Friday, Oct. 7: at Tumwater*
Friday, Oct. 14: at Aberdeen*
Friday, Oct. 21: at Chehalis*
Friday, Oct. 28: RIVER RIDGE*
* 2A Evergreen Conference game
Meg Wochnick, staff writer
