St. Xavier’s Specht Joins Team USA Staff

Staff Report

MaxPreps.com

If the talent on the coaching staff is at all indicative of the type of players the United States’ first junior national football team will attract, Team USA should be in good shape.

Head coach Chuck Kyle tabbed Steve Specht of St. Xavier in Cincinnati and Gary Swenson of Iowa’s West Des Moines Valley High School as his defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively, this week.

Specht and Swenson own a collective 303-88 record as head coaches with 25 state playoff appearances and six state titles. Specht’s St. X program has become a nationally-recognized powerhouse and annually faces a schedule comprised of teams from all over the country.

“It is truly an honor and a humbling experience to be offered an opportunity like this,” Specht said. “Being able to represent the United States should never be taken lightly and the chance to coach with a tremendous group of players and fellow coaches from around the country will be an experience of a lifetime.”

Swenson is already a member of the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame and has guided Valley to three state titles since 2002. Team USA’s offense should be in good hands as Swenson’s Tigers have averaged 33 points or more each of the past four seasons.

“This will be a tremendous experience,” Swenson said. “Working with Coach Kyle, the rest of his staff, and some of the country’s finest student-athletes is a remarkable opportunity. I’m excited to be part of it.”

Kyle is expected to complete his staff before the start of the 2008 season.