Coach Chris Heater

Kiski Area's Chris Heater is starting his first year as the school's head football coach. But he is not a new face to the Cavaliers. Heater has 12 years of coaching Cav football under his belt, and 13 in the Varsity wrestling program. He is bringing the outlook and intensity forged in the fires of Cavalier wrestling with him.

Heater sees some sparks in the program already and is igniting more. "We're very excited about the season and our schedule," he says.

"It hasn't changed any from last year, but the team has. There's a lot different atmosphere, there's a lot different feeling. These guys are really excited about the season coming up, as we are as coaches. We're looking for bigger and better things this year. We expect to be one of the top ten teams in the WPIAL."

It is a very realistic goal. A WPIAL Assistant Coach of the Year as part of Cav wrestling, Heater consistently pressed the matter of pride, passion, and relationship in the program, along with head Coach Chuck Tursky. It lit a fire under many wrestlers, and now Kiski Area Wrestling is one of the premier programs in the Commonwealth. Coach Heater is already throwing similar kindling on the newly flickering football flame.

"Everything we have been pushing since I was hired is the team concept," Chris says. "You have to be a close family. One of the reasons we were successful in the wrestling program was because we were a pretty close family: kids, coaches, and parents. We're trying to develop that...everything we've done has been about the team. It's not about the individual, and we have some pretty outstanding individuals, but those guys have to be able to sacrifice the "me" for "we," so our team is successful."

The other coaches who make up the Cav football program will be a part of building a successful blaze. Most of the coaches each have 20 years experience or more; many have coached alongside Heater before, and he has full confidence in their experience and judgment.

"I'll be utilizing the staff a little differently," the new coach says. He expects all the Cav football coaches, from 7th grade up, will play a part in games on Friday night. "They're not a lesser coach than the rest," Chris explains.

Heater's goal is to fan the flame of Cavalier pride among Cav fans. "We hope on Friday night we're changing the concept of football around here a little bit. I think there is a lot of excitement in the community, in a lot of things we've done," he says. "I think you're going to see a different kind of football Friday night."

The new Kiski Area coach illustrates his points about players, this season and Cavalier football in the online video interview found at: http://www.alle-kiskitoday.com/webcasts/1474