High school football: New coach Hamlin looks to maintain Skyview’s winning legacy

Matt Hamlin has been the head coach at Skyview since late winter, leading the Storm through spring drills and summer workouts. On Wednesday, it was the first official day of practice for the upcoming season. Photo by Paul Valencia

Matt Hamlin takes over for Steve Kizer, who retired after 21 years as the head coach, and Hamlin said the transition has been smooth because all of the football players at Skyview High School already know the expectations

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

There is a new leader for Skyview football, but there is a lot of love and respect for the old leader, too.

It can be a major transition for a football team when a new head coach arrives.

At Skyview, though, it is less so because the person in charge now is simply trying to continue an incredible legacy that he was part of for so many years as an assistant coach.

Skyview football remains Skyview football.

Matt Hamlin, who has been with the program since 2005, has a new title: Head Coach.

“I feel lucky and fortunate to have this opportunity. You never know what it’s going to be like until you’re doing it, and now that I’m doing it, I’m so glad I applied and got the job,” Hamilin said. “Everything’s been really fun so far.”

Matt Hamlin has been with the Skyview football program as an assistant coach since 2005. This season, he is the head coach, taking over for Steve Kizer who retired after 21 seasons on the job. Photo by Paul Valencia

Hamlin was hired in late winter, taking over for Steve Kizer who retired after 21 seasons.

“We miss Kize a lot. But there hasn’t been a big shift, or change in the way we do things. Just some minor tweaks. For the most part, we are continuing what he built,” Hamlin said.

Skyview football has had 19 consecutive winning regular seasons and made the postseason in all but two of Kizer’s seasons.

“There is a lot of pressure,” Hamlin acknowledged.

That is the nature of competition, though, the beauty of sports.

The challenge this year is to quickly find out the best players for their best positions. Skyview graduated an incredibly talented group last school year, and there are gaps to fill.

“A lot of open competition,” Hamlin said Wednesday on the first official day of fall season practice. “The kids will rise up. They always do.”

While Wednesday was the first day of official practice, as most fans are aware, high school sports teams, including football teams, do have practices throughout June and July.

Hamilin had a fun reminder that he was now the head coach on the first day back in June.

Kizer was always the one who opened the container that housed all of the football equipment near the Skyview practice field.

“It’s four minutes before practice, and I ask, “Where’s all the stuff?’” Hamlin recalled.

Coach, the container is locked.

“Oh, it’s my first day on the job,” Hamlin said. “If that’s the worst thing that happens, we’re in good shape. I forgot to unlock the container.”

This is Hamlin’s first head coaching job. Or is it?

Back in 2010, Hamlin had accepted the head coaching job at Walla Walla High School, the place where he shined as a three-sport athlete. Hamlin had the blessing of Kizer to make an impact at his hometown school. However, there was a breakdown between the school district and Hamlin regarding a full-time position that had nothing to do with football.

So yes, he accepted the job, but quickly changed his mind and remained at Skyview.

“It was a blessing,” Hamlin said.

Instead, the Hamlin family stayed in Vancouver, raised their children through Skyview athletics, and today, Hamlin is the head coach for a perennial playoff team, coaching alongside some of his best friends.

Most of the staff has returned. Kizer was not only a head coach but also linebackers coach, so there have been some additions to the staff, as well.

Hamlin said all the coaches, and their wives, are tight.

“It’s like a family,” he said.

The Skyview Storm, and every other high school football team in the state of Washington, celebrated the first day of practice Wednesday. Photo by Paul Valencia

As far as his first season as head coach, the high expectations of Skyview football will continue. The team has another challenging non-league schedule, including four road games — in three states — to start the season.

“Having to play that tough non-league schedule sets us up for success in the playoffs … if we get there,” Hamlin said.

“We’ve never spent a lot of time talking about wins and losses. Preparing, doing things the right way, using good technique, trusting your training,” Hamlin said. “The results will be what they are if we do those things.”