(Story by Taylor Kennedy)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Upshur County Board of Education approved Zach Davis to become the 34th head football coach at Buckhannon-Upshur earlier this week.
“I was humbled,” said Davis of receiving the call saying he got the job. “I think that is a wonderful place and program. I was humbled that they would choose me to become the new head football coach. After that, I was excited to get going in knowing the players, coaches, administration, and community.”
Davis will replace Duane Stoeckle who spent eight seasons with the Buccaneers. Stoeckle announced his retirement back in March. Stoeckle went 30-47 during his tenure with BU.
“People reached out to me telling me that it was coming open,” Davis said regarding how he knew about the vacant position. “I think I am decently connected with other coaches from around the state. I went and applied then went and interviewed. A wonderful interview committee. They asked me great questions, and I asked them some questions. They offered me the job, and I accepted it on the spot.”
Davis spent the last three seasons with the Nitro Wildcats, and he spent three seasons prior to that at Riverside. Davis will have new things to learn about not only the program but the people involved on his team.
“This is a people business,” stated Davis. “You are trying to learn what makes people click. You are trying to understand what their personality type is and try to connect with them. You are also trying to find out how to motivate people. You are trying to figure out how I help people to perform at the best of their abilities. That is all by getting to know people.”
There are a variety of ways new coaches build foundations at their new job. Some will immediately work on X’s and O’s while others focus on learning the in’s and out’s of the program.
“Try and be real with people and not be fake,” Davis stated on what elements he uses to build the foundation. “Be who you are because eventually, they will find out. They might as well figure out what you are like when they first meet you. The first year is the dig. You are digging the foundation. You are trying to put everything into motion in how you like it to go.
“It is going in there and being the person you are as a coach. Do not try to be someone else. Be who you are.”
Since being named the new head coach, Davis has received numerous messages from people, including the Buckhannon community, wishing him congratulations. The outpour of love from the fanbase is not going unnoticed by Davis.
“They are ready to go,” noted Davis. “They are ready for me to come up there and put it all together. They have been positive and welcoming. I think Coach Stoeckle did a great job while he was there. I want to build on the foundation that he laid there and put my own and my coach’s touch on it.”
With the school year almost done, the three-week period will be a critical time for new head coaches to get to know their new team.
“We treat the summer by showing our guys how to practice,” said Davis. “We are going to go out during the three-week period and flex days to teach them how we do things and how we want it done. When we hit August, it will not be repetitive. We are going to get them used to that during the summer. That helps a lot. We want to practice fast and physically. Those are things that can help our guys.”