Football 2011 Preview: Lutheran Cougars Gearing Up for First Year With New Coach

Matt Marty starts his first year as head coach of the this fall.

Marty, however, if very familiar with program. In high school, Marty suited up for the Cougars. Coaching the team he used to play for presents certain rewards.

“It’s great to be back,” Marty said. “It’s very exciting and humbling. I’m coming back to a school where I attended and played football.”

Marty graduated from Lutheran in 2000. No stranger to coaching in the Lutheran school system, he was an assistant coach at Lutheran South in Affton before logging in two years as head coach in 2009 and 2010.

The Cougars hosted ots first practice on Monday, Aug. 8, but Marty made it sound like the 2011 campaign has been in the hearts and minds of players over the summer months.

“We have a great corps of juniors and seniors out there,” Marty said. “They’ve been in the weight room and attended summer camps. Numbers wise, we don’t have the numbers of other programs, but we have a lot of guys that will be two-way players for us. I have a lot of confidence in them. They give whatever it takes and have an unselfish attitude.”  

Marty said 36 athletes showed up for the first two practices. He said the numbers are lower than some of the other schools in their area because of the school's small enrollment—a little more than 300.

Senior Zack Sostak will play both wide receiver and in the defensive secondary and Ryan Birk, also a senior, will see action on both offensive line and defensive line. Marty called Sostak “a real leader” and Birk “reliable.”

Chris Sheerin will play offensive line, tight end and linebacker. Junior Brett Collins will play both quarterback and in start in the defensive secondary, atlhough not at the same time. Michael Thomas could earn time at quarterback. Michael Wilshusen will play both running back and linebacker.

“He’s (Wilshusen) done a fine job all summer and in early practices,” Marty said. “I would say he’s our emotional leader. He brings a lot of physicality and energy to the team.”

Zack Thomas will play wide receiver and Nick Snyder will also play both wide receiver and in the defensive backfield. Naturally, Marty wants his offense to control and ball and limit turnovers and for his defense to create turnovers.

“We want to take care of the football,” he said. “We’ll take a shot on a big play if we want to, but we really want to establish the run and as the game goes on see what’s available.”  

Marty said the Cougars’ defense “is communicating well.”

“Communication is one of the big things we talk about,” he said. “The secondary and the backers and the defensive line are doing a great job of communication. Their energy level is very high.”

Sophomores Kurt Studer and Robert Day will play defensive line. Marty said Studer “has unlimited potential” as a defensive tackle and that Day “has done a great job with his work ethic and attitude.”

The Cougars finished last year with a 1-9 mark. Marty said there is a hunger for improvement based on the work ethic of the team in the summer. 

Lutheran competes in the AAA Conference. Marty expects the league to be tough this year.

“There’s some great teams, a variety of teams with different personalities,” he said. “But I think you have to look at Cardinal Ritter based on their success in the past as a favorite in the conference. Trinity has a lot of good athletes. St. Mary’s is always tough and Kennedy is getting better every year. St. Dominic had a great year last year. It’s a great conference and I’d rather be in a conference that has great competition than a conference where you know they’ll be a few easy games.”

The Cougars will open the 2011 campaign on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. against St. Mary’s. Marty described St. Mary’s as “a physical team” and said his team will have to be able to “answer that physicality.”