2023 Post-Season interview with Fredrick Douglas state champion head coach Nathan McPeek

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Name: Nathan McPeek

School: Frederick Douglass HS

Position: Head Coach

Heading into the 2022 season, what were your biggest concerns?

The greatest concern was a lack of depth at the linebacker position.

After spring ball and then two A days were completed, which player stuck out to you the most and why?

Several guys did, as we had many P5 football players. WKU signee Jalen Hand really was one of our most improved players.

Which team in 2022 was the toughest to prepare for? Why?

Owensboro due to familiarity of past 3 years and having a bunch of good seniors players

What was the number one goal you had set for the 2022 team, and did they achieve it?

State champions and yes

What did you learn most about your players during the 2022 season?

That they had a great will to win and wanted to be the best version of themselves.

I have been told a coach never stops learning. So, with that in mind, what was the one lesson you learned from the 2022 season that will help make you a better coach in 2023?

That building relationships is more important than scheme, we developed morning trust sessions that focused on everything but football

What were the best and worst parts of the 2022 season?

Best winning a state championship. Worse nothing.

If anything, what would you go back and change from the 2022 season?

Nothing. The 15-0 state champs were pretty special.

Which team from the 2022 season was the hardest to prepare for? Why?

Owensboro due to them having so many guys back on defense and being familiar with us playing three straight seasons.

Can you tell the readers which seniors from last year's team will attend college and which colleges they will attend?

Kentucky-Jamarrion Harkless, Ty Bryant Purdue TJ Horton-Ball State Jalen Hand, WKU Army Tylon Webb Isaiah Kenney-Findlay Jaiden Dixon and Thomas More Thomas Dunn--Cameron Dunn Steve Lawson—Thomas More Tresean Benford, Kentucky State Walker, Johnson, and Hanover Tate Johnson, Centre College John Sualla-WKU (PWO), Tyler Grimes-Campbellsville, Corey Gamble-Campbellsville, Branndon Brooks-Kentucky State

[VetteMan]

I can see why Coach McPeek wouldn't want to change anything. To go 15/0 and win a State Championship is about the best thing that could happen. I don't think I can remember any one team that has that many kids going on and playing at the next level.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

I believe one of the Kerry Combs Colerain teams did.