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Pigskin passed to pupil at Centre

Sports reporter

Prince replaced Snyder. Self replaced Williams. And now Steiner replaces Peterson.

OK, so the latter isn't as big of a deal as the first two — unless, that is, you live in the Centre High School district.

After 25 years and one state title, CHS head football coach Bud Peterson resigned this past spring, paving the way for a former pupil, Kelly Steiner.

In a town where eight-man football rules like purple in Manhattan, Peterson stepping down was front page news.

After the talk of Peterson leaving faded away, the breeze blew in the name of Steiner — as in the former Peterson protégé who patrolled the field behind center in the mid-1990's.

"He was a standout for us," Peterson said. "A real competitor."

Now he'll be standing on the sidelines, patrolling the team as the leader.

Success

In the 25 years Peterson was the head man, he brought home a state title, several sub-state appearances, and earned the respect of hundreds of players. One of them was Steiner.

For the past three seasons Steiner has been an assistant at Hope High School, and plans on using what he learned there, as well as what he learned from his former coach.

CHS turned a two-win season in 2004 into a six-win season in 2005.

"I'd like to build off of last year," Steiner said, "and kind of get the tradition built back up where Coach Peterson had it in the late '80s and on into the '90s."

The year after Kelly graduated in 1996, Peterson won his first title with Kelly's brother, Kevin, at running back.

"They are good individuals," Peterson said.

The two played together at McPherson College for a year after Kelly transferred from Bethany College.

Even then, Steiner didn't have any idea he would one day be a head coach, much less for his alma mater.

Head high school football coach is not a three-month job. Steiner has already opened the weight room, and hopes every prospective football player comes to get in shape before the season starts.

Steiner knows the opening game is approaching fast.

"I get nervous just thinking about the first game," Steiner said.

Not just because it opens at Madison which was 10-1 last year. Not just because it's his first game. It also has a little something do with replacing what some Cougar fans call a legend.

"There is some pressure to a point," Steiner said.

But he adds, some of that is just who he is.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself," he said. "I don't like to lose."

And he didn't that much at Centre. Not even on the basketball court, where Steiner's worst season was 16-6. Although he is a football man at heart, he also will be heading up the girls' basketball team which is coming of a season in which it won 16-sraight at one point.

In other words, Steiner isn't used to losing, probably the main reason he despises it.

Looking ahead

Once the off-season is finally over, Steiner and his Cougars hit the easy part — playing games.

Well, maybe not this year.

"We probably have one of the toughest schedules in the state of Kansas," Steiner said. "There are not many teams who would want to switch eight-man schedules with us next year."

Besides the Madison contest, CHS has the game at Hope. In district play the Cougars battle with Claflin, Little River, and Goessel.

The five combined last year for a record of 44-11 and one eight-man Division I runner-up trophy. Claflin, who won back-to-back 1-2A titles in the late '90s, will be one of the bigger eight-man schools this year.

Steiner though looks at the tough schedule as a positive.

"I hope we are looking forward to the challenge," he said of his team.

Centre family

A challenge is something Steiner always welcomes, and as head football coach he knows it will be there. But that won't be his only responsibilities in the Centre school district. He will take his place as junior high English teacher and yearbook adviser.

"I was more excited when I got the teaching position," he said. "Some people think I'm crazy, but I'm glad I'm moving down to the junior high."

Really, though, Steiner is just happy to be a part of USD 397.

"When I was driving back and forth to Hope I felt I wasn't a part of the Centre family," he said.

That family is something Peterson will miss as well, but he said it was just time.

"I was starting to feel consumed," he said. "Sometimes you just have to look for a change."

That change will be from athletic director, teacher, head football coach, and more at CHS, to assistant football coach and social science teacher at Council Grove High School.

Peterson said his life changed a little more than a year ago when he fell ill while on a CHS spring break trip to Washington D.C.

Doctors found he had an abscess in his small intestine, and he stayed in a Virginia hospital for 17 days. He said Easter Sunday of 2005 he felt like it would be his last day on Earth.

"It changed my perspective," he said. "I've lost a few pounds. I feel great."

Just because Peterson has decided to step it down a notch, doesn't mean he will forget the school that mean so much to him for the last quarter of a century.

"I definitely love this community and the people," he said. "I've had a tremendous amount of satisfaction over 25 years."

Now it's Steiner's turn to leave his mark as Cougar head man, and he's ready now more than ever.

"I'm just glad to be back in the district," he said. "It's a good district. It's a place where I'm glad to raise my kid."

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