Karl Buckwalter has missed coaching in recent years. The new Dominion High football coach had been at the helm of the McLean High football program from 1990 to 1999 and in charge of the Colonial Forge High team in Stafford from 2000 through 2003.
Then he elected to get involved in the business world. After a few years, he realized how much he missed coaching.
When he got hired as the Titans' coach this past offseason, he was thrilled.
"I was just ecstatic," he said. "I tried the corporate world, but my dad taught me a long time ago, you are who you are — a coach."
Now, Buckwalter will be looking to build Dominion into a Dulles District contender, much in the same way he once turned McLean High into a power in the Northern Region. He knows it will not be easy and it will take some time.
"We want to establish ourselves as a very intense, physical, flying- to-the-football-type team," he said. "If we do that and play intense defense, I think we'll be fine."
He has learned about the tough Dulles District, although he has no First-hand knowledge of the caliber of play. But he has heard a lot of good things about the teams and coaches within the district.
"I've hear through the grapevine that it's similar to the [Northern Region's] Concorde District," said Buckwalter. "It's a rough game every week. The coaches are phenomenal and the kids are ready to roll."
<b>UCKWALTER LOVED</b> what he saw from his new squad in training camp. The Titans were hungry to learn.
"The kids were really responding," he said. "They were like a sponge. They really soaked things up and worked hard. We've changed the offense and defense. The kids have worked hard and stepped up."
The coach created the Senior Counsel, a group made up of the Titans' 14 senior players. The group is responsible for leading the squad and more.
"They keep the kids accountable," Buckwalter said.
While at McLean, Buckwalter led McLean to a 4-6 record in his first year in 1990. The Highlanders slipped to 2-8 the following season, but broke through for an 8-4 season in 1992. They reached the
region title game that postseason.
McLean's best season under Buckwalter came in 1995 when the Highlanders captured the region title. The following year, they made it to the region title game again, but lost.
Buckwalter said it took a while before a lot of kids began coming out for the football team when he was there. But eventually, the Highlanders became a top program.
"We hadn't had a lot of success and we had to get [players to come out]," said Buckwalter of his initial years at the helm of McLean. "It takes time. It's not going to happen [at Dominion] over night."
One of McLean's top skill position players at that time was running back Duane Epperson, one of the top backs in the Northern Region at that time. He said a few of his current backs, including sophomore sensation Deandre Reaves, remind him of Epperson.
"He's beyond his years," said Buckwalter of Reaves. "I compare him to Epperson. Duane started both ways as a freshmen."
Other running backs Buckwalter is excited about include sophomore Trey Baxter and first-year player Garrett Geebae, a tailback with exceptional speed.
"They each will have to block for each other and take care of one another," the coach said of his backs.
Dominion's quarterback is senior Chris Taylor, a pitcher and third baseman on the Titans' baseball team.
"He's got a nice arm," Buckwalter said. "He's got all the intangibles you're looking for. He's a very, very good football player. He knows the game, he's savvy and a leader."
Taylor played football at Dominion three years ago on the freshmen team, but did not play the past two years because he wanted to focus on baseball. But he came out this season and impressed.
"For him, getting [back] out was like riding a bike," Buckwalter said.
<b>BUCKWALTER HAS A</b> policy that every player on the program's freshmen and junior varsity teams will get playing time every week. He is a staunch believer that kids should have fun playing football. That will help the team succeed and create more interest in the program.
"I want our kids at the freshmen and JV level to come out and learn the game and have fun," he said. "Everyone will play in every game for the freshmen and JV. They're our lifeline."
With his varsity team and down through the program, Buckwalter wants his players to begin believing, truly believing, that they can win ball games.
"We need to change the mentality, not hoping we'll win, but believing they'll win," Buckwalter said.