Why Harrisburg tabbed Brennan Claas to bring goals and passion to its football program
Harrisburg football has named its next head football coach.
The program announced Monday that it had hired Brennan Claas as its next football coach. Claas fills the opening left by Steve Hopkins, who retired after the 2022 season.
Harrisburg was looking for someone to bring passion to the program. Claas exemplified that in his interviews, but also showed Harrisburg that he's also a coach that devotes time to the team's presence off the field as much as its performance on the field.
"We are very excited about the passion and energy he is going to bring to Harrisburg," Harrisburg director of athletics Ryan Richardson told the Tribune. "During the interview process he continually described goals and the process of becoming a champion on and off the field. That is something Harrisburg strives for athletically and academically."
Claas was the defensive coordinator at Clark County High School for the past two years. He was also an assistant basketball coach. Prior to coaching at Clark County, he was an assistant at Macon High School and was also a student assistant at Missouri Western.
Claas is an alumnus of Macon High and is the son of 17-year Macon head coach Pete Claas.
At Clark County, Claas was responsible for a massive defensive overhaul. Clark County allowed 38 points per game in the 2021 season, as his first year ended with a 1-9 record.
In 2022, Claas guided the defenses to a 16-point improvement. Clark County allowed 22 points per game this past season as the team finished with a 5-6 record.
Claas' hiring follows Hopkins' tenure where he led the Bulldogs into relevance.
Harrisburg had a successful 2022 season where the Bulldogs won the Lewis & Clark Conference with a 6-0 conference record. In his time in Harrisburg, Hopkins accumulated a 29-15 record.
Before Hopkins' arrival, Harrisburg finished with a 1-9 record in 2018. Claas is now tasked with keeping that success going while also implementing his own structure and culture in the program.
He'll have the players to do so, such as quarterback Trace Coombs and running back Hayven Samuels, who are primed to be the focal points of the Bulldog offense in 2023.
Claas will need to get to know these players first, which is also a reason Harrisburg sees Claas fitting with the program.
"We believe he is going to be a great fit with our current staff and students," Richardson said. "His view on the culture he wants create in Harrisburg for our football program will only make every student in our district better."
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Why Harrisburg tabbed Brenan Claas to lead its football program
