The Cleveland football program has selected its new head coach, Alan Hopper, after the resignation of Coach Trevor Smith in December.
Smith coached Cleveland for three years and resigned as head coach after going 1-8 this year. In Smith’s three-year tenure, he had a record of 5-22.
Cleveland announced its decision to hire Hopper in a newsletter in late January after a long process involving students, parents, teachers, the athletic director, and the principal, JoAnn Wadkins. Hopper said he is looking forward to taking over as Cleveland’s new head coach. He previously coached at Lincoln High School as an assistant, and he currently teaches history and PE at a small private school.
Hopper, who is still finalizing his assistant coaching staff, accepted the coaching position at Cleveland because he believed “Cleveland is a good football team, but I would like to build a winning culture.”
Having coached at Lincoln and playing against Cleveland the past two years, Hopper has seen the team and knows the challenges facing him. The coaching offer from Cleveland really stood out to Hopper because he thinks “there’s a lot of talent here. It was a place where I could bring a lot of my own coaching staff together.”
Hopper says he wants to have a “scrappy defense. Like we attack at the ball where we can.” Hopper also wants a run first offense and utilise quarterback plays in the later downs.
His goals for this season are “building a culture, and getting to meet some of the players, and getting some new players out (to play).” Hopper also wants to build the culture of the team in a way that makes players excited to get out and play for Cleveland. He wants the players to enjoy the sport and have fun.
Junior Elliot Simpson, a linebacker and offensive lineman, has played with Cleveland all three years of high school. He is looking forward to the change at head coach, saying, “I’ve enjoyed playing for coach Smith, but I think the future looks bright for us with coach Hopper. Hopper is very involved and he does the workouts with us.”
Hopper hosts practices in the weight room every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4:10-5:15 p.m. “This practice is for anyone who wants to get to know me, get to know the head coaches, and to just work out,” he said.
