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Meet Cory Nenaber: Talking football with Maricopa Rams new coach

Jan 1, 1970

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Cory Nenaber will be on the sideline this fall as the new head football coach at Maricopa High School. Nenaber, who was introduced at the March 24 Maricopa Unified School District governing board meeting, was previously an assistant coach at Tempe Corona Del Sol High.
Nenaber sat down with InMaricopa.com to answer questions about his outlook for Rams upcoming season and why he chose Maricopa to coach.

InMaricopa: Why do you want to coach at Maricopa?
Coach Cory Nenaber: The first time I came down to Maricopa to submit my application, I really liked the feeling I got from the school, the staff members and the community. I believe that Maricopa is a great community with the potential to grow and be a major force in the state of Arizona, and the school district has done an excellent job with the facilities. They are some of the best I have seen.

What do you think Maricopa football has to do to get to the “next level?”
Nenaber: Watching some of last year’s game films, I think we are very close to getting to the next level. I definitely believe we have the talent to compete and be very successful. We have to work on the small things to get over the hump and win the close games. The great teams are disciplined and make very few mistakes both mentally and physically. That is what we are going to strive for.

What went through your mind when you got the call that you were hired as the next head coach at Maricopa High?
Nenaber: I was very excited when I got the call that I was being offered the job at Maricopa. I really felt in the interviews and around the community that this is a place I wanted to be, and I am ready to get started.

What type of system do you plan to implement offensively and defensively at Maricopa?
Nenaber: A lot of the offensive and defensive schemes will depend on the athletes we have on our football team. I like to run multiple sets on offense, forcing the defense to line up in many different fronts. Defensively, I believe in simple schemes, allowing players to fly to the football and play fast. One thing we will be on both sides of the football is fundamentally sound. We will block, tackle, and take care of the football.

What are some goals and keys to success next year?
Nenaber: An initial goal is to try and teach the players about the desired culture for our football program. We need to show the players what we expect at practice and in the games. We will promote the desired work ethic and convey our expectations regarding how we expect our players to handle themselves in the classroom, on campus, and in the community. A major key to success is to create an environment of positive discipline and trust where players and coaches believe and trust in each other to achieve our desired team goal of winning football games.

What do you expect out of your players both on the field and academically?
Nenaber: I am going to have high expectations for my players both on the field and in the classroom. I believe that players are student-athletes and that they are not athletes with out being students first. Grades are the No. 1 priority. All freshmen will begin the season going to “study halls” before practice to do homework or get extra help, and any player in the program with a “D” or “F” on their biweekly grade check will be required to go to “study hall” as well. On the field, I want us to be the hardest working team everyday. We will play with passion, discipline, and sportsmanship everyday and every play.

See a video with Coach Nenaber and highlights from last season below:

Photo by Joyce Hollis