By Tim Clinton and Patrick Robinson

Zachary Hermsen knows exactly what he is getting into as the new head football coach at Evergreen High School, and he is more than eager to get the opportunity.

“I am really excited about this role and think that our staff can help develop young people into change makers and the best versions of themselves,” he said. “I intend to serve and teach at Evergreen as long as I am allowed the privilege to do so.”

Hermsen is entering his fourth year teaching at the school and his third as a football and weight lifting coach.

He was the defensive coordinator in 2017 and the offensive and defensive line coach in 2016.

Hermsen will run the Wolverines’ 3-4 defense himself and Chris Maine will run the offense. Maine is a former Pacific Lutheran University quarterback under coach Frosty Westering.

“He is a huge asset to our school and team,” said Hermsen of Maine. “He is installing a double wing offense. Our philosophy on both sides is to create and teach systems of play that are easy for our players to learn and execute, but will cause problems in preparation and in in-game decision making for the other team. We value the appearance of complexity, while still holding to a system that makes sense for our players.”

Hermsen inherits a team that did not win until its final game last year, but feels things are looking up.

“Our offensive backfield will be a big strength for us,” he said. “We don’t have a ton of seniors, but several will be getting time in our backfield. They looked great back there in the spring. I am also excited for the development of our offensive and defensive lines.”

Evergreen has switched to the South Puget Sound League’s Sound Division, which includes Highline.

“We are all excited to be in the same division as Highline,” Hermsen said. “I admire the work that coach Cross is doing there and you can tell that students enjoy the benefit from that program. I want to see Highline do well, and I am sure that they want the same for us. The competition makes both programs better.”

Hermsen will emphasize off field attributes as well, which is something he learned from his coaches like Steve Valach at Liberty High School.

“Our football philosophy is team culture and character building first,” Hermsen said. “We believe that our charge as coaches is to help develop the young people in our care into the best people they can be while giving them their best high school football experience.”

Hermsen went on from Liberty to the University of Washington, where he volunteered on the Evergreen High School “Campus With Dream Project.”

“It exposed to me the strengths and needs of White Center,” he said.

Hermsen also worked as a student assistant for then UW football coach Steve Sarkisian with operations, recruiting and social media.

He joined Teach for America, which works to “expand educational opportunity for students from marginalized communities,” he said.

Hermsen and his staff are also emphasizing safety.

“Football is a dangerous sport, and our community has experienced the loss and hurt of that,” he said. “I understand that folks have placed their children in my care in the classroom and football field and that they expect their child to be whole and unharmed, as well as enriched after the experience.”

One step has been to keep spring football practices non-contact.

“You can teach so much of the game without pads and hitting, and it forces us to emphasize technique, safety and speed, and I think that we will be both safer and better for it.” Hermsen said.

The Seattle Seahawk, or rugby, style of tackling is also taught and implemented.

“This teaches athletes to take their heads out of contact, and to use their shoulders to create contact with the ball carrier,” Hermsen said.

Helmets are inspected for safety by Riddell, the manufacturer, each year, and injury prevention is taught as part of the Evergreen weight lifting program as well.

“As a coach, I need to push to the leading edge of this issue to ensure that all in my care are getting the best experience that they can,” Hermsen said.