Hinkley senior Chance Drake, running last season against Arvada West, is enjoying the resurgence of the Thunderbirds' football team this season. Hinkley is 2-0 under new coach Jaron Cohen.
File photo by Carl Auer
Don't chisel a coach-of-the-year plaque for Jaron Cohen quite yet. The football season, after all, is only two weeks old.
You can give the new front man at
Hinkley (Aurora) a label, though. A program-shifter, an innovator, and the man who brought relevance back to the downtrodden program.
Yes, it's early. But the Thunderbirds' 2-0 start has breathed life into a formerly moribund squad that hasn't won more than three games in a season in more than a decade. The former Liberty (Colorado Springs) coach's approach — and immediate results — have entirely changed the vibe at the Aurora-based school.
"For once I can actually keep my head up as I walk down the hallway," senior receiver/defensive end
Chance Drake said. "I can say I'm on the football team and be proud about it."
Granted, Hinkley's first two wins haven't come against the powerhouses of the state — a 50-27 decision over Vista Peak (Aurora) and a 30-16 win against Thornton — but the Thunderbirds have looked impressive doing it. Belief is filtering in.
"Random students will come up to me and say ‘great game' or ‘good luck,'" Hinkley quarterback
Austin Ruiz said. "Last year, we had kids saying ‘Oh, you guys are going to lose again.' But this year they're actually supporting us and coming out to the games."
Cohen, originally from Connecticut, arrives after a five-year stint with Liberty. He brings with him a cutting-edge staff and the idea of catering the system specifically to his players' abilities.
"From an X's an O's standpoint, we really try to highlight our kids' strengths," Cohen said. "At Hinkley, we're really lucky to have a lot of skill players both at receiver and running back, and we have a really sharp quarterback.
"In the past, they were kind of an, I-(formation) this week, wishbone the next, empty the next. We try to say, hey, this is our system. There may be some variations in it from week to week, but we believe we can put our kids in a position to succeed and take advantage of their athletic ability."
The Thunderbirds, members of the Class 5A Aurora League, are operating a pistol-spread system. The numbers bear out how well it has worked. Ruiz threw four touchdown passes in the opener and was an efficient 12-for-18 for 211 yards against Thornton.
Running back
Brandon Compton rushed for 123 yards against Vista Peak and was injured, so
Dante Richardson stepped in and rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries.
Drake has six catches for 144 yards and a touchdown in the first two weeks.
With Cohen and his deft cadre of assistants, including defensive coordinator Marcus Washington, the Thunderbirds are thriving like their pre-millennium days.
"The kids are prepared for Friday nights by doing things they're really not used to," Cohen said. "Things like watching film and having the scout team run the opposition's offense."
Cohen originally was hired in January but still had to finish the school year teaching at Liberty. During that time, strength coach Nick Donnelly took over and put together a football-specific workout plan that allowed the players to enter camp strong and conditioned.
Cohen believes the staff "brought in some energy" with summer activities, such as competing in the Denver Broncos 7-on-7 tournament. The players have noticed the immediate transformation and are basking in the freshness of the new era.
"He's been a big part of it," Ruiz said. "He's even got the athletic director even more involved, with things like announcing when our games are. During the announcements this week, she told the school how we did. Last year we didn't ever do that. It's a better feeling knowing the school is behind us, too."
Idle this week, the Thunderbirds take on Arvada West on Thursday. The matchup will be a test against a stalwart squad on the big-school circuit, one with a deep roster and a penchant for success.
In the past, just seeing Arvada West on the schedule almost immediately would equate to a loss. Now, the Thunderbirds are geared up for the challenge.
"It's a whole new feeling around here," Drake said. "Coach has got us to play every play, every practice to the best of our abilities. It's just a total turnaround."
