Shriver Enjoys Success In First Year As Head Coach
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
AKRON - Jeff Shriver said he was never looking to be a head football coach.
He said he was "content" being an assistant.
When long-time friend and Tippecanoe Valley head coach Scott Bibler stepped down after the 2005 season, Shriver - a graduate and former player for backyard rival Rochester - was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach.
And the guy who said he didn't set out to be a head coach led the Vikings to a 7-3 record in his first year at the helm. Valley's record included a dominating 7-0 mark in the Three Rivers Conference.
"I wasn't looking to be a head coach," said Shriver, a humble but fiery coach. "I started out here working with the offensive line and then took over as defensive coordinator. As opportunities presented themselves, I became the head coach, but it wasn't something that was a career goal of mine. I enjoy the game of football, and I love the Tippecanoe Valley program. Every coach and player has a role, and I was content being an assistant. Some coaches have the goal of becoming a head coach, that was never my career goal. I love being around the kids and I'm very happy to be a part of Tippecanoe Valley football."
Shriver said he misses having Bibler on the sideline, but that the two are friends and that Bibler is still there to talk football with Shriver, something Valley's successful first-year coach said he was grateful for.
In Shriver's first year leading the Vikings, senior Jerrod Parker and Valley's running game dominated the TRC, scoring a conference best 36.9 points per game against conference opponents.
In seven conference games, the Vikings gave up just 65 points, an average of 9.3 points per contest.
In all, Valley outscored its 10 opponents 289-123 this season.
Outside of the conference, Valley suffered seven-point losses to Culver Academy (14-7) and Mishawaka Marian (25-18) and a 19-6 setback to Bremen.
Included in Valley's seven wins was an exciting 14-7 win over rival Rochester.
"Our offense was able to put some points on the board, and that helped us control our opponents," said Shriver. "But if you look at the state's leaders for points given up and we were 31st. Over the last five or six years, we've been in the top 50 in the state for fewest points given up, that's something we're very proud of. The coaching staff works very hard putting together a defensive gameplan, and give the kids credit for playing as hard as they do."
Shriver said he didn't change a lot of things when Bibler stepped down. He said he and his assistant coaches met a lot in the offseason and "tweaked some things."
Shriver's Vikings picked up right where Bibler's Valley teams left off.
Valley's 7-3 record this year was the fourth straight season the Vikings have won at least seven games.
"I love Tippecanoe Valley football, and we're trying to carry on a rich tradition," said Shriver. "I'm very proud of the way the kids played this year. We only had eight seniors. We're very excited about next year."
Asked to describe his coaching style, Shriver labeled himself as a very emotional coach.
"I'm more fiery than some people, I get excited," said Shriver. "I'm an emotional person, and football's an emotional game played by emotional people. I do coach with a lot of emotion. That's the only way to do it, go hard and go all out." [[In-content Ad]]
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AKRON - Jeff Shriver said he was never looking to be a head football coach.
He said he was "content" being an assistant.
When long-time friend and Tippecanoe Valley head coach Scott Bibler stepped down after the 2005 season, Shriver - a graduate and former player for backyard rival Rochester - was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach.
And the guy who said he didn't set out to be a head coach led the Vikings to a 7-3 record in his first year at the helm. Valley's record included a dominating 7-0 mark in the Three Rivers Conference.
"I wasn't looking to be a head coach," said Shriver, a humble but fiery coach. "I started out here working with the offensive line and then took over as defensive coordinator. As opportunities presented themselves, I became the head coach, but it wasn't something that was a career goal of mine. I enjoy the game of football, and I love the Tippecanoe Valley program. Every coach and player has a role, and I was content being an assistant. Some coaches have the goal of becoming a head coach, that was never my career goal. I love being around the kids and I'm very happy to be a part of Tippecanoe Valley football."
Shriver said he misses having Bibler on the sideline, but that the two are friends and that Bibler is still there to talk football with Shriver, something Valley's successful first-year coach said he was grateful for.
In Shriver's first year leading the Vikings, senior Jerrod Parker and Valley's running game dominated the TRC, scoring a conference best 36.9 points per game against conference opponents.
In seven conference games, the Vikings gave up just 65 points, an average of 9.3 points per contest.
In all, Valley outscored its 10 opponents 289-123 this season.
Outside of the conference, Valley suffered seven-point losses to Culver Academy (14-7) and Mishawaka Marian (25-18) and a 19-6 setback to Bremen.
Included in Valley's seven wins was an exciting 14-7 win over rival Rochester.
"Our offense was able to put some points on the board, and that helped us control our opponents," said Shriver. "But if you look at the state's leaders for points given up and we were 31st. Over the last five or six years, we've been in the top 50 in the state for fewest points given up, that's something we're very proud of. The coaching staff works very hard putting together a defensive gameplan, and give the kids credit for playing as hard as they do."
Shriver said he didn't change a lot of things when Bibler stepped down. He said he and his assistant coaches met a lot in the offseason and "tweaked some things."
Shriver's Vikings picked up right where Bibler's Valley teams left off.
Valley's 7-3 record this year was the fourth straight season the Vikings have won at least seven games.
"I love Tippecanoe Valley football, and we're trying to carry on a rich tradition," said Shriver. "I'm very proud of the way the kids played this year. We only had eight seniors. We're very excited about next year."
Asked to describe his coaching style, Shriver labeled himself as a very emotional coach.
"I'm more fiery than some people, I get excited," said Shriver. "I'm an emotional person, and football's an emotional game played by emotional people. I do coach with a lot of emotion. That's the only way to do it, go hard and go all out." [[In-content Ad]]