Wahl headed to Colusa
Colusa High has hired Matt Wahl, son of Mid-Valley coaching legend Geoff Wahl, to take over as head football coach for the 2006 season.
Wahl, a Yuba City resident, has spent the last three years as head football coach at Esparto.
“It wasn't an easy decision,” Wahl said. “I had developed good relationships with a lot of the people at Esparto. ... The main thing for me is that Colusa is a lot closer to my house than Esparto.”
Colusa also hired Dak Kalisuch to coach the girls varsity basketball team in addition to his current duties as boys tennis coach.
Wahl will finish the spring at Esparto, where he teaches history. He will teach social science this fall at Colusa.
In 2003, Wahl took over a struggling Esparto football program that hadn't won a playoff game since 1992.
Wahl twice took Esparto to the playoffs, and last fall the team ended its postseason drought with a 3-0 opening-round upset of East Nicolaus. Wahl had an overall record of 10-23 at the school.
He hopes to lead a similar resurgence with a Colusa team that has won one game in the last two seasons.
“The main thing is to make sure the kids are having fun,” Wahl said. “Once they enjoy what they're doing on the field, the wins will happen, and winning makes everything more fun.”
Geoff Wahl served as Matt's offensive coordinator the last two years at Esparto. Geoff has not committed to any official role with the Redskins, though Matt said he would welcome his father's help.
“He's a great motivator, and he works well with the kids,” Wahl said. “He's a wealth of football knowledge.”
Geoff, now 68, is best known for building the East Nicolaus football program into a Northern Section powerhouse. He won eight league and four section titles for the school, where the football stadium is named in his honor.
Kalisuch, a Colusa resident, teaches math and physical education at Egling Middle School, where he has been on staff since 1996. In addition to tennis, Kalisuch has also been a varsity volleyball coach at Colusa.
Appeal-Democrat reporter Nathan D. Collier can be reached at 749-4714. You may e-mail him at ncollier@appeal-democrat.com.
