Heavy weighs Matt Koziak's new crown

New Muskegon head coach Matt Koziak | Cory Morse, Muskegon Chronical

Historically Michigan’s winningest high school football program, Muskegon dominated in recent years under head coach Tony Annese.  Annese set a standard at Muskegon that few in Michigan, East side or West, have been able to match.

But after winning a state championship in each of the last three even years (’04, ’06, ’08), Annese graduated to the college ranks, leaving the Big Reds for Grand Rapids Community College.  Accompanying him, seven starters on each side of the ball graduated as well.

For Annese and the graduating seniors, it’s the pinnacle of athletic achievement and class — something that even Brett Favre was unable to do — leaving the game at the very top.  The career-equivalent of a walk-off homerun.

For the remaining Big Reds, led by offensive coordinator-turned-head coach Matt Koziak, it’s a challenge.  A hefty one.

“Expectations are so high, you can almost only make a lateral movement.  Or down,” Koziak explained.  “But you know, that’s something that attracts you to a job like this.”

Which is the only approach Koziak can take, in his situation.  It’s relatively easy to take a program at the bottom of a conference or division and raise it from there, because when the expectations are low even marginal improvement looks good.  Koziak doesn’t have that luxury.  He has inherited the crown, and with it the spotlight.  Now it’s his charge not to screw it up.

No pressure, though.

Community support

Koziak made lemonade out of the pressure surrounding his new position in saying, “the great thing about those expectations is that you have so much support from the community.  I mean I’ve talked to coaches on the East side (of Michigan) and they say it’s not even close to how the community backs football here.”

He’s right on, there.  West-siders like their football, and Muskegon is right at the forefront.

The fan support is second-to-none after a 2008 in which West Michigan won all eight possible state championships.  And particularly so for schools in Muskegon County, who claimed four of those state championships.  The entire city gets behind its championship programs — Muskegon, Muskegon Catholic, Montague and Oakridge — and supports them intensely.  As a coach that’s an awesome thing to be a part of, because you’re smack dab in the middle of the spotlight.

At least it’s awesome as long as you’re winning.  Because that pendulum swings both ways.

But the Big Reds are no strangers to winning, and neither is coach Koziak.  Even having graduated the majority of their starters, Muskegon is loaded with talent.  Coach Koziak himself is a great talent, who has continually proved himself at every level.  They’ve got the tools, and there’s every reason to think they will make the best of them.  Now they simply have to deliver.

And everything will continue to be puppies and sunshine in Skee-town as long as the Big Reds maintain their current position.

Winning one out of every two state championships.

No pressure, though.

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