Three things to know about new Trask high school football coach Lawrence Ches

Michael Cuneo, Wilmington StarNews
·2 min read

Lawrence Ches is the newest football coach at Trask, making him the third coach at the program in four years. The veteran coach knows the task at Trask won't come easy, but he's ready to build a competitive program.

Here are three things to know about Ches.

A Michigan native

Originally from the Great Lakes State, Ches moved to North Carolina to escape the cold and get a new start. As a student, he played baseball and did well in the classroom.

Ches spent five years coaching at Red Springs High School, leading the Red Devils to a 29-20 record and conference title.

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English teacher at heart

Ches isn't your typical football coach. After spending time in the weight room and on the football field, he ventures into the classroom where he teaches English. While it may be hard to believe, Ches says his English background comes in handy on the gridiron.

"I feel like the analytical side of being an English teacher absolutely helps with relationships and bonding and the total climate of the team. Being a classroom teacher and dealing with preparation and dealing with student emotions, that helps so much."

A rebuilding mindset

Ches didn't land at Trask by accident. He knew he wanted to coach a program in the rebuilding stages. When the job opened up, he contacted Trask athletic director Chris Howell, who he spent time with at Red Springs.

"I really wanted to build something that was in need of a rebuild. Heide Trask had limited success in the past, so I threw my name in the hat and got hired," he said.

Ches says the biggest challenge in his first year at Trask is fielding a larger team. To achieve this, he says he'll have to make the program compelling to players by remodeling the culture.

"These kids aren't any different than kids from Wallace or Whiteville, they're no different. I have a saying that good is the enemy of great, and everybody was ok with good enough before I got here. We're trying to fix that."

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Meet Heide Trask high school football coach Lawrence Ches