Hamilton football building toward contention
HAMILTON - Since coach Phil Koops took over the Hamilton football program five years ago, the Hawkeyes have struggled, making one playoff run. The team hit its lowest point during the 2022 season, winning just two of nine games and finishing last in the OK Blue Conference.
Koops and the rest of the Hamilton team have used last season as motivation going into this season. The Hamilton farm system has been improving since Koops took over, and the varsity squad is primed to have a much improved 2023.
“When you go 2-7 and finish last in the conference, you don’t feel good about it,” Koops said. “We’ve grown the program, our lower levels have seen increased numbers and they’ve started to win. We bring back a great player in Ben Boehm and our other skill positions have a lot of returning players.”
To run their flex-bone option offense, the Hawkeyes have seven offensive starters returning, including quarterback Justin McIllwain, slot receiver Keaton Haverdink, Boehm and wide receiver Lincoln Phillips.
Koops and his offensive staff will also integrate a spread offense adapted from Ferris State University’s offensive arsenal. Many players were a part of the Hawkeyes’ OK Blue Conference championship track team, adding a new element of speed that has been lacking in previous years.
This will also help greatly improve a Hamilton defense that allowed 297 total points last season.
“We weren’t good defensively, but we have guys coming back who are older and better,” Koops said. “We have a great chance to be much better and have our defense help us win more games.”
While the coaches did their part to prepare for this season, the players used the offseason to improve physically and mentally.
“We call (our training program) HEAT, Hawkeye Extreme Athletic Training,” McIllwain said. “We have guys in the gym five days a week, just getting faster and stronger, just ready to perform.”
The players have focused on what they can control and realize the importance of offseason training.
“This year we’re focused on getting better every day and on ourselves, instead of things outside of our control,” Haverdink said. “You can’t go into the season expecting to be better if you don’t put in the work in the offseason.”
Right from the beginning of the first practice of the season, the energy was different, the players were ready to play and ready to get better in every facet of the game.
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“Our attention to detail in practice today was better than I saw all of last season,” Phillips said. “Every rep we had today was good.”
The Hawkeyes begin the season with four consecutive road games, including a Week 3 matchup against Fruitport, who tied for the best record in the OK Blue conference last season. They begin the regular season August 24 at Plainwell.
“It’s nice to play at home, but there can be less distractions for away games,” Koops said. "The kids get out of school and wear suits and ties and we turn it into a business trip. There are a lot of good things that come from road games.”
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hamilton football aims for turnaround season after last year struggle
