Recker takes over at Van Wert

VAN WERT – Keith Recker is a winner.

As an all-state linebacker at Delphos St. John’s, he was on the 1998 state football championship team and had 111 tackles on the 1999 title team.

He also won a state basketball crown on the 2001-2002 squad.

Now he’ll take his winning philosophy to Van Wert.

Recker, a 2002 Delphos St. John’s grad, was hired as Van Wert’s head football coach at the Board of Education meeting Wednesday night. He comes to Van Wert from Oak Harbor High School, where he was the team’s offensive coordinator the last four years, including going 7-3, 6-4 the last two years.

"I’m very excited," Recker said. "(Coming home) was a big draw, but not the only draw. I’m coming back close to my family."

Recker’s father, Steve, is the longtime defensive coordinator at Delphos St. John’s.

Recker was a standout linebacker at St. John’s and went on to play at Hillsdale. Upon graduation, he coached the receivers at Hillsdale in 2006.

In 2007, he took the head football job at Marion Catholic, where he coached it to a 1-9 campaign in his only season.

"And that was their first win in three years," Recker said. "It was awesome how excited they were about that win, but the expectations weren’t there."

Recker takes over for Bob Priest at Van Wert, who coached five years with the Cougars. He compiled a record of 16-34, including going 0-10 last season.

"The biggest thing is there are high expectations for myself, then my players," Recker said. "They’ll know that from first team meeting. The first thing we have to do is improve every day. The wins and losses will take of themselves from there. We want to do things the right way.

"We’re going to do a lot with accountability, to themselves and their teammates. We’ll do competitions to make sure they are accountable for their academics, conduct in and out of school and effort in the weight room."

On the field, Recker plans to use mostly an I-formation.

"We’ll be multiple pro, which will allow us to be in the I," Recker said. "We’ll run the ball no matter what. We can be in the I and go with two tight ends and a fullback, or pull the fullback out and go with three wide receivers."

Over the next few weeks Recker will begin putting together his staff. He said his dad, Steve, will remain on at Delphos St. John’s.

"He’s a Blue Jay, but I’ll know he’ll be there to help me," Recker said.

Recker will be a math teacher at Van Wert. He comes back with his wife, Jodie, and a 5-month-old daughter, Molly.

Establishing his own winning program is something he’s thought of for a long time.

"Ever since I got over wanting to ride on a garbage truck when I was 6 or 7, I knew I wanted to be like my dad," Recker said.