(Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)
Matt Pees will be the next head football coach at Green Mountain, the school announced on Monday afternoon.
Pees was most recently the Rams’ offensive coordinator, and also served as Green Mountain’s receiver’s coach prior to that. He is the son of Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees.
“I have been exposed to tradition throughout my life,” Pees said in a statement. “Being a ball boy for the University of Michigan, playing high school and college football in Ohio and seeing my father win multiple Super Bowls contributed to my understanding of what it takes to build a dynamic culture.”
Pees takes over for Jared Wallen, who was 8-22 in three seasons.
“This year, our athletes earning the privilege to wear the Green Mountain uniform will know without a shadow of a doubt they are prepared to compete at the highest level,” Pees said. “No shortcuts will be taken to see Green Mountain High School return as a football powerhouse.”
Green Mountain, of course, has won two Class 4A championships — but those titles came in 1995 and 1999. Over the past two seasons, the Rams are 3-17 while playing in 4A. They are set to move to 3A in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Green Mountain’s last winning season came in 2012, when it went 7-4.
“Matt Pees was chosen for his commitment to the program, students and his philosophy to teach the players much more than the sport of football,” Green Mountain athletic director Tommy Dodge said. “We firmly believe in his ability to lead our team to a winning season.”
Pees will have an experienced quarterback returning in senior-to-be Dylan Jacob, who threw for 1,365 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015.
But the team will graduate its three leading rushers, as well as two leading receivers. On defense, three of the five leading tackles will graduate, but Spencer Lagerberg (71 tackles, two sacks) and Preston Schattinger (53) will be seniors.
Pees is the latest head coach to be hired during football’s offseason. Find a complete list of the changes here.