Old School Coaches- Greg King’s Blue Print for Success

I believe football programs have the ability to establish a culture that can have a positive impact on the entire athletic department, and for that matter, the entire school. 

Sterling High School has always had strong, tough competitive teams in many sports over the last fifty years. As an outsider looking in, Greg King not only took Sterling football to an elite level, he took Sterling athletics to a different level. It is obvious Sterling athletes work hard, compete with passion, and strive for excellence. I am sure many coaches have contributed to building this terrific high school culture, but there is no doubt in my mind that a huge part of the “Sterling culture,” started with Greg King. 

I have reached out to people who coached with, played for, or coached against Coach King. They share their thoughts on why Coach King has been so successful. 

Vic Boblett

I first worked indirectly with Greg at Augustana College. I was the defensive back coach at Augustana College (1982-1986). In 1982 Greg was an offensive center and captain  for us at Augustana. Those were heady days, four straight NCAA Division III National Championships. It was apparent then that Greg had a unique motivational skill set. A few years later (fall of 1991) I made the decision to move from the head job at Geneseo to Rock Island and as a part of that move I was in the market for some good assistant coaches. 

I always kept a list of possible good candidates for when we were looking for good assistants and Greg was one of those  at the top of the list. Greg was the head football coach at Bushnell Prairie City in the fall of 1991 and made the move to join us in the fall of 1992. He left a Head football coaching job at Bushnell Prairie City to become an assistant freshmen coach. That alone tells you a lot about Greg. Starting in 92 he coached with us for nine years. He coached with us from the fall of 92 until the fall of 2002 with the exception of the fall of 1997 when he went to Augustana for one year as an assistant coach. Greg came back to us in the fall of 1998. I always kidded Greg he left us for one year and we (Rock Island) go to the state championship game that year. He came back to us in the fall of 1998. 

In 2002 Greg made the move to become Sterlings head coach. I had really hoped that Greg would take over as the head coach at Rock Island when I decided to retire but the timing was not good. So I was very happy for Greg and his family when he got the Sterling job but I was sad for Rock Island. We missed out on a good one.  As it turns out, I think it is clear Greg made the right decision.

What did you see in him as a young coach that you felt predicted his later success?

Young, energetic, great personality and a great football mind. Student of the game. Great teacher of fundamentals. Understood that regardless of scheme the fundamentals of blocking and tackling win games. He could take average kids and get the very best out of them. My son who played for us always remembered how intense he was on the “boards”, a drill that we did everyday in practice which emphasized the fundamentals of blocking and tackling. Most importantly he had the best interest of the kids he taught and coached at heart. He understood that when kids know you have their best interest at heart they will run through a wall for you.

What is most impressive thing about his coaching career? 

Longevity, he has stood the test of time. As you know Evan, any body can get lucky and have a great season now and then but to do it year after year as you and Greg have done is not easy and is quite an accomplishment. Everywhere Greg has gone they have gotten good in a hurry and maintained it. The young men Greg has coached, the coaches he has coached with, the schools where he has taught and the communities he lived in, were all left better off, for having had Greg in their lives.

Any favorite memories of when you worked with him? 

There were a ton of great football wins and memMy favorite memories of all, came every Friday night after the games. Every Friday night after the game, all of the coaches their wives and kids would meet at our house, share a meal and breakdown the film of that nights game and begin planning for the next weeks game, often lasting until 2:00AM. I never laughed so hard. What a staff! I have been very fortunate! 

Jonathan Schlemmer 

Coached under Greg from 2007-2011.  He was the AD here after that and came back on staff when I was the HC to coach our OL.

Coach King was smart, especially about OL play. He understood the offense we ran at the time VERY well. He seemed to always have answers and adjustments for our kids.

Coach hired me as a young coach. I knew nothing but thought I did. Little things he did I still do to this day.  Coach gave me a chance. I was a super young DC for him. He allowed me to voice ideas but reeled me back in when I needed it.  He taught me lessons even when I don`t think that was his intention. He gave me responsibilities and expectations.  That was invaluable in my mind as a young coach.

Practices were long. But he did not cut corners.  Things needed to be done correctly and that sticks out to me.

Steve Walton

I coached with Greg from 2001 to 2007 at Sterling High School.  

The characteristics that made Greg a successful coach were his strong work ethic, he was well organized, and he had a genuine concern for his players and staff.

His practices were well structured. He believed in repetition, especially with half line drills and expected coaches to be prepared. He was very good at making half time adjustments in games.

By coaching with Greg you would become a better coach and person. He held people accountable but never demeaned coaches or players. He was a good coach and an even better friend.

Several game memories stand out. We beat Metamora and Genesee at their place when they were ranked number one in the state. We beat Lemont at their place when they had a number of players who were Division 1 recruits. We beat Rochelle in the playoffs after they had upset us in the playoffs the year before when we were undefeated.

I felt fortunate to have coached under Greg and even more fortunate to count him as a friend.

Elroy Wylde

I coached with Greg from 2001-2010 as his running backs coach.

Greg was successful for a number of reasons. First, he had a vision for what a successful program looks like from his years at Augustana and his experience he got coaching at places like Rock Island before he came to Sterling.  Second, he had a specific plan on how to get there from every aspect of the program.  He unified our program from lower levels through the varsity by having very organized off seasons including a great weight program, off seasons workouts, and his great organizational skills. He set the tone for his players and his assistants.  He made me a better coach by believing in me and holding me and other coaches accountable.  You just didn’t want to disappoint him and he expected you to be hard working and thorough in your preparation. He was a great coach and a better person.

His practice plan exemplified his vision and led to success. Practices were a good balance of individual skill development and team meshing on both sides of the ball.  His offensive scheme and defensive schemes complimented each other and he never left off any details.  His game management combined passion yet control over  his emotions.  

Greg impacted me greatly as a coach.  I never really saw myself as a varsity coach as all my experience had been on the Sophomore level.  He pushed me to the next level and was both supportive and demanding.  He gave me responsibility and used my strengths. When he was the “bad cop”, he would expect me to help pick up the athlete in question without being disloyal to him.  

I remember many great games—a win over Geneseo after so many years of losing to them, the games against some ranked teams when we “upset” them because of our system, our unified program, and his in game adjustments and play calling.  What I remember most is his taking a couple of very average teams as to talent and getting them to the playoffs.  One of the “memorable games” was a loss to Rochelle in the playoffs and an overtime loss to Kaneland.  These losses propelled us to better things as we avenged the Rochelle loss by beating them the next year—maybe best win ever during my time with him.  There were so many great victories along the way that it is hard to pick out a few.

Mike Cooper- Ottawa

Greg King is a relentless worker when it comes to coaching football. When you played a Greg King coached team you had to be at the top of your game and ready to be physical. 

Greg was an outstanding lineman at Amboy High School and then an All-American at Augustana college! 

I was always impressed by the relationships he had with his players. They would run thru the wall for him, which is why his program was always successful and competed for a state title every year.  He always took time to take interest in each kid especially those who are looking for a father figure. Simply asking a kid how their day is going or asking about something in their life makes a difference. Kids appreciate that. 

Greg King is a great example for young coaches to emulate!

Tyler Loos

I played offensive line and defensive line at Sterling high school 2007-2010. Played varsity for Coach King 08-10. 

I think Coach King  was successful because he was good at getting the best out of the players. He could be tough and had high expectations at times, but a lot of times that was necessary and helpful for the development of our team. He also played the game himself at a national championship division 3 winning school and was a good player so he knew what it took to be successful. 

Coach King would talk about always competing and overcoming adversity so we had an inside joke with the team about it so we would say it all the time too.

Coach had a significant impact with my development as an offensive lineman because of the technique and experience he brought to practice but he also was very helpful with my recruitment process. After starting varsity as a sophomore and playing well against other division 1 commits Coach knew I had potential to play division 1 myself. He helped with film, setting up meetings with college coaches, utilizing any connections he had to get my name out there. I appreciate all of his help and getting the best out of me. 

There were a lot of great memories. All of the wins together, winning conference, making the playoffs every year, playing against great players and beating them. A funny memory of Coach King was how he would limit my helmet stickers to 10 per game. He would pass out stickers for guys who got touchdowns, sacks, pancakes, turnovers, and I would get so many pancakes he’d tease me about some of them saying they didn’t qualify and then IId only get 9 or 10 stickers. 

Joe Schneiderbauer

 

I played for Coach King from 2003–2006, and had the privilege of coaching alongside him in 2011 and again from 2015–2016.

Greg didn’t just coach athletes—he coached us to be men. He held us accountable in a way that was both challenging and empowering. What made him truly special was his ability to read the moment. He knew when a guy needed to toughen up and when someone needed a word of encouragement. Everything he did was to help his players grow—and in turn, help their brothers on the team.

Deep into playoff season, it’d be freezing cold at practice—and we’d be running wind sprints when you’d hear him yell, “Running water never freezes!” It cracked us up every time—and he wasn’t wrong. His one-liners brought comic relief right when we needed it most. He had a gift for knowing when to lighten the mood and when to lock in.

He helped me understand what it meant to become a man. That it’s not just about talk—it’s about actions, ownership, and taking responsibility. He had an incredible ability to understand people and bring the best out of them. That influence stayed with me when I was choosing a college—I was looking for someone who led the same way. I only found one coach who had that same presence and character, and that was Coach John Thorne at North Central College.

Hands down—our quarterfinal state playoff game against Kaneland. It was one of the greatest games I’ve ever been a part of—double OT, back-and-forth scoring, incredibly high stakes. We came up less than a yard short of tying it and going to triple overtime.

Coach King and the team trusted me to carry the ball on what ended up being the final play. I’ll never forget the heartbreak of falling just short—but I’ll also never forget who the first person was to come up and give me a hug. Coach King looked me in the eyes and said, “Thank you for giving me your very best.” That moment is etched into my soul—and that principle has stayed with me ever since.

Thanks again for letting me be a part of this.