Nenaber a ‘positive disciplinarian’ on, off the field

Last year, Cory Nenaber was hired as the Maricopa High School Rams’ fourth head coach in three years.
The turnover of coaches started in 2008 when head coach Tyler Brandt took a college coaching position in Iowa.

In 2009, Gary Mattes was hired on to fill the position but resigned after two games because of health issues. Mattes was replaced by Matt Reed, who took the roll as the interim coach for the remainder of the season.

When Nenaber started in 2010, he was presented with the challenge of coaching a team that was going to lose 25 seniors in his first year. While this might have seemed like an obstacle to most people, Nenaber embraced the opportunity to guide a young team of guys who were going to need some time to grow.

Nenaber’s main focus was to gain the trust of his players. When asked whether he was concerned about earning the players’ trust, he responded, “definitely.”

“I think, especially early on, that first spring and into the summer, that was my whole focus. It was trying to develop a relationship with those kids and let them know I wasn’t going anywhere,” he said.

Nenaber felt it took almost half of the first year for the kids to really trust him.

“I think that’s why we won our last games,” said Nenaber.

The team hit a low that season when they played Williams Field High School and lost 53-3. It wasn’t the loss that was so heartbreaking, but it was the way the fans reacted inappropriately to the players and coaches.

“I can tune it out,” said Nenaber, but when referring to his players he said, “They were embarrassed on the sidelines.”
But the kids bounced back the next week and played really hard. Eventually, they won their last two games — one of which was an upset. “I don’t think that happens if those kids don’t buy in.”

Early into the 2011 season, there seemed to be excitement on campus about the new head coach, from the students to the parents and even the faculty.

“It’s exciting. He’s a presence,” MHS Assistant Principal Aaron Harris said.
“Coach brings a lot to the table. It’s just a matter of time until the boys start gelling,” said Mark Kear, a parent of one of the players.

Nenaber started his training as a coach early on in his life. Growing up, he was surrounded by football. His grandfather was a high school football coach for 35 years, who was eventually inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Hall of Fame.

“He did it right,” Nenaber said. “The way he impacted the kids, I think I just knew all along I wanted to be a football coach.”

After graduating from Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe and having played under his head coach and mentor Gary Venturo, Nenaber returned to his former school and Venturo gave him his first opportunity to do what he has always wanted to do: coach football.

Venturo made Nenaber the head junior varsity coach when he was only 23 years old. After coaching the junior varsity team for six years, Nenaber spent his last few years at Corona Del Sol calling the offensive plays for varsity.

“I had a fabulous mentor in Gary Venturo,” Nenaber said. “He really allowed me to progress.”

After coaching at Corona Del Sol for nine years, Nenaber felt it was time to move on. He wanted an opportunity to become the head coach he always dreamed of being. He began applying for head coaching positions all across the valley but was turned down every time.
It wasn’t until he took a trip to Maricopa that his luck would change. “I was fortunate, you know, I came down here to Maricopa and they gave me a shot.”

When asked about his coaching style, Nenaber replied, “I am a positive disciplinarian. I believe in laying out expectations, and when the players don’t meet those expectations we hold them accountable. At the same time, I believe this is their experience, and we’re going to try and make it as positive as possible.”

One of Nenaber’s main focuses is to build a successful football program, but that’s not all he does for the district.

***ADVERTISEMENT***“If I help kids graduate and become better people, and become successful later in life, or maybe help a kid get through high school, then I am really doing my job whether we win on Friday night or not,” Nenaber said.

Nenaber’s tremendous care for his players goes beyond the playing field. When he is not coaching he is teaching social studies at the high school.

He likes to use as many sources as possible to get to the kids.

“Some kids learn differently than others,” Nenaber said. “We try to show it on the board; we try to demonstrate it, and we try to have them do it themselves.”

“He’s really good with kids,” said Alex Cesa, a former student of Nenaber at Maricopa High School. “He would present movies to relate the material to the kids’ lives.”
Besides teaching the curriculum, Nenaber feels it is important to teach his students about the realities of life.

“I try to tie everything into their real life,” he said. “So, if we can relate it to what they know then they get it.”
In the classroom or on the field, Nenaber said he likes to keeps it simple when developing students. He tries to focus on areas like teamwork, discipline, work ethic, motivation and sacrifice, all of which are things he believes you need to become a successful person.

“I believe coaching is just like teaching, it’s just a different subject matter,” Nenaber said.
Now that the 2011 season is winding down, Nenaber continues to guide his young students and players into adulthood.

Although the Rams are 0-6 as of Sept. 30’s 53-0 loss against Phoenix Arcadia, Nenaber believes the team has shown major improvements from last year and will continue to grow.