Meyer named new Elmwood football coach

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JERRY CITY – Vic Meyer first became involved in the Elmwood High School football program as a water boy
in the fourth grade.
He later played for the Royals and served as a varsity assistant coach at the school.
Now, he’s in charge of the program. Meyer is beginning his first season as Elmwood’s head coach.
The 31-year-old is taking over for Dean Zeigler, who is not returning for unspecified reasons, according
to superintendent Steve Pritts.
Zeigler guided the Royals to an overall record of 56-37 during his nine seasons.
Zeigler, who was placed on administrative leave in January pending an investigation into possible
misconduct, is still under a paid suspension, Pritts said.
"This is a nice opportunity, but it stinks it’s under these circumstances," said Meyer, an
assistant coach during all nine of Zeigler’s nine seasons. "I have a lot of pride in the school and
the program and I’ve always wanted to be a head coach, so this was a natural for me."
The Royals have one of the best programs in the Suburban Lakes League, winning a share of the league
championship in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Elmwood usually is a contender for a spot in the Division V state playoffs in most seasons, most recently
competing in the playoffs in 2005.
"We’d just like to keep things rolling, and continuing the success we’ve had and continuing to be
competitive," Meyer said. "Winning the league and getting in the playoffs are pretty much the
yearly goals we have for the team."
Elmwood finished 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the SLL last season on a team which included 13 freshmen, eight
sophomores and seven juniors on its 40-player roster.
"The camaraderie is there among the coaches and the players," Meyer said, adding the staff is
virtually the same as last season.
"The players trust you and you trust the players. The kids know what to expect from the coaches and
we know what to expect from them. That makes the transition easier."
Meyer said the Royals will continue to run the spread offense, a staple of the program under Zeigler.
Elmwood averaged 22.4 points per game and allowed 18.3 in 2008.
Among the returning players is all-league quarterback Reid Rothenbuhler, who completed 156-of-276 passes
for 1,921 yards and 17 touchdowns, and ran 175 times for 697 yards and five touchdowns last season.
"We’ll stick with what we’ve been doing offensively and defensively, tweaking it a bit as we do
every year," Meyer said. "There won’t be any huge, major changes."
Meyer said the Royals will be a sophomore- and junior-dominated team this season, and the team has
received good leadership from its seniors.
"We’re definitely excited," Meyer said. "We have a good group of kids back, and we have a
great group of young kids coming into the program. They show a lot of potential, but how much they’ll be
able to help at the varsity level, I’m not so sure about it. But the future for Elmwood is looking
good."
Meyer is a 1996 Elmwood graduate and was a standout offensive lineman and linebacker for the Royals. He
earned all-league, all-district and all-state honors as a senior.
In addition to serving as an assistant under Zeigler, he also was an assistant at the school under former
head coach Roger Frank and played his senior season under Brian Hessey. Frank and Hessey also were
successful head coaches at Elmwood.
"He brings a lot of experience and he’ll bring a new look to the game," Pritts said.
"We’re looking forward to the season. We’re looking forward to his ideas. He has a great
relationship with our students. We really have some pretty high hopes.
"He has earned his way into the head coach’s position. I just like his demeanor and the way he works
with the kids. He’ll be good."
Meyer teaches health and physical education at the high school.

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