Image by Ethan Koch

The 2017 high school football season starts this Friday. To get ready, we sent Ethan Koch around the city to interview coaches and catch practice. For day 3, we take a look at the Topeka West Chargers and new head football coach Ryan Kelly.

Topeka West alum Ryan Kelly always had head coach aspirations

When he realized he could coach the school where his football career began, the 29-year-old relished the opportunity, although it took time for him to believe he earned the job.

“My original reaction was ‘are you sure?’…In all honesty, I was incredibly excited for the opportunity and just honored that they would consider me the guy for the job.”

He now turns his focus on rebuilding a Chargers program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2005, his senior season.

Kelly played quarterback at Benedictine College in Atchison where he set the career passing yards and total offense records for the school. He then became a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State University before returning to Benedictine in 2013 where he served as the running backs coach for four years. Kelly believes the college coaching experience will pay dividends for him at T-West.

“In college, when it’s your full-time job to recruit athletes, practice plan, and evaluate, that’s really all your doing year-round…I think it’s prepared me from an organizational standpoint.”

The first-year coach wants to “turn the boat” and get Topeka West facing the right direction. That starts by changing the culture and making his players believe they can win.

“The first thing we need to change is the attitude of the players; get them to believe that they can compete,” the Topeka West alum said. “It’s hard to say where to start because there’s a lot of things to fix, but if you don’t believe you can, then you probably can’t.”

Senior Chris Ellis knows Kelly has brought a swagger to the team, and it has impacted the players.

“A lot of things have changed, different coaches, a different mood in the locker room,” the wide receiver said. “Everybody’s walking up high headed. Nobody’s got their head down, nobody’s doubting the season or anything. Everybody’s really ready for the season to come and to show everybody our worth and what we’re able to do.”

In his final season at Topeka West, Ellis wants to set the foundation for the program for the underclassmen.

“I’ve just been trying to become as coachable as possible because I know that in order for coach Kelly to have more successful years it has to start with the senior class,” Ellis said. “If we start listening now, then all of the underclassmen begin to follow through…. creating a tradition-like pattern to where everyone wants be able to play at West.”

Ellis led the Centennial League with 47 completions and seven receiving touchdowns, earning All-Centennial League honorable mention. Elliot Mehrens will complement Ellis on the opposite side of the field at receiver. Mehrens hauled in 38 catches for 469 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Last year, Topeka West relied heavily on the passing game, led by senior quarterback Zach Shima. Shima had 293 pass attempts last year, 120 more than the next highest mark for a quarterback in Topeka. This year, Kelly wants to become a run-first team and create more balance on offense. Seniors Jadon Hagans and Kentrell Warnow will split time in the backfield.

According to Kelly, Hunter McDaniel and D.J. Washington are currently competing for the quarterback spot. McDaniel is a 6’4” junior who played wide receiver last season, according to MaxPreps.

“When the kid gets out of his own head, he can let it rip,” Kelly said.

Washington is a 5’8” junior who played quarterback on the JV team last season, according to Kelly.

Kaleb Ayers – the 5’11″, 300-pound 5A state bench press champion – will anchor the offensive line. He is joined by senior Dayshaun Nino, junior Jeff Mudoga and sophomore T.J Michael.

The shift in offense scheme intend to not only help the Charger offense (12.1 points per game last year), but help the defense as well. Last year, Topeka West gave up 48.3 points per game and 428.5 yards per game last year, both ranked last in the Centennial League. By running the ball more, T-West can shorten then game and give the defense more rest between series.

The Chargers start the year on the road against Seaman, followed by Shawnee Heights on the road. The first home game will be September 15 against Junction City. Topeka West hasn’t beaten a Centennial League opponent, except for Highland Park, since 2005.

In hiring Kelly, Topeka West invests in one of their own, hoping he can reinvigorate the program and instill confidence to the players and fans.

“If there is one thing I want people to take away when they watch Topeka West …I want them to be able to say ‘that team is better, that team is tougher, that team is more improved. They’re playing faster. They’re playing harder.’”

Stats from the Topeka Capital-Journal