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Coaching in the Heart of Illinois Conference was too good to pass up for Joe Hageman.
Hageman was hired in February as the new head football coach at Tremont, following six seasons as the coach at Catlin Salt Fork. He won 34 games, never had a losing season and made the Class 1A playoffs five times at the school 125 miles southeast of Peoria.
“The opportunity to jump into the Heart of Illinois was definitely something exciting,” Hageman said, noting he thinks the HOI is one of the best small-school conferences in the state.
2024 Journal Star all-area teams: Meet the 22 top football players around Peoria
The 1994 Catlin graduate takes over for Benny Prather, who received a 6-1 vote of non-renewal from the District 702 school board in December. Prather’s two-year stint included a pair of winless seasons, and the Turks will enter 2025 on an 18-game losing streak.
However, that isn’t a deterrent for Hageman, whose team opens at 2024 Class 1A quarterfinalist Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley on Aug. 29.
“It’s been rough for them the last couple of years,” he said. “… The good things the kids have to understand is, no matter what’s happened in the past, when Week 1 rolls around and the ball’s put on the tee at 7 o’clock in Gibson City, the scoreboard’s going to say 0-0.
“… Every year’s a new year and there’s always opportunities there and just getting the kids to believe in what we’re trying to do offensively and defensively, I think are things that will allow us to be successful.”
Hageman says he had a "wonderful experience" and a "great time" coaching at Salt Fork, where the field is named for his dad, Dan Hageman. While there, he also coached his two older sons, Evan and Payton. A change, though, was needed.
“Sometimes, you’re just ready to kind of look out a new window,” Joe Hageman said.
Now, Tremont will get a taste of a new-look offense and defense. He was the offensive coordinator for Salt Fork from 2009 until his resignation this past November. Establishing the run will be the priority on offense.
“I’ve been a big believer in, and we base things out of the wing-T for a long time,” Hageman said. "Obviously, true of any small high school coach, you kind of tailor that to the kids you get on a certain year.
“I still think to be successful at a small high school, first and foremost, you got to be able to run the ball. That kind of sets everything else up.”
'No place better': New Metamora football coach aims to maintain program's historic legacy
From a defensive standpoint, Salt Fork ran a 4-4 under Hageman, who began his career coaching defense at Downs Tri-Valley.
“I’ve kind of lived on ball sides of the ball,” he said.
For Tremont to compete with its league mates, according to Hageman, it will take time in the summer to get physically and mentally prepared. Time in the weight room along with conditioning will be the focus throughout the offseason.
Hageman will also rely on his returning players to help boost numbers.
“They’re always going to be the best recruiters for the program,” he said, “the kids that are currently involved. My No. 1 goal is to make football something that’s enjoyable for them, something that they want to be a part of.
“I think that’s the best way to go about trying to get the largest number of athletes in school involved is to make it a program that kids are excited about and want to be a part of.”
Can blueprint become reality? Limestone's new football coach eyes expectation of success
His wife, Jennifer, and him have already bought a house in Tremont, but are waiting to move once the school year ends. Hageman’s youngest son will be a sophomore this fall.
Plus, Hageman is the Salt Fork head baseball coach and junior high athletics director.
“I’m trying to balance the looking ahead,” he said, “and enjoying the moments I’m having with the kids of Salt Fork. It’s kind of an interesting dynamic.”
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football: Tremont hires former Salt Fork coach Joe Hageman
Continue reading...
Hageman was hired in February as the new head football coach at Tremont, following six seasons as the coach at Catlin Salt Fork. He won 34 games, never had a losing season and made the Class 1A playoffs five times at the school 125 miles southeast of Peoria.
“The opportunity to jump into the Heart of Illinois was definitely something exciting,” Hageman said, noting he thinks the HOI is one of the best small-school conferences in the state.
2024 Journal Star all-area teams: Meet the 22 top football players around Peoria
The 1994 Catlin graduate takes over for Benny Prather, who received a 6-1 vote of non-renewal from the District 702 school board in December. Prather’s two-year stint included a pair of winless seasons, and the Turks will enter 2025 on an 18-game losing streak.
However, that isn’t a deterrent for Hageman, whose team opens at 2024 Class 1A quarterfinalist Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley on Aug. 29.
“It’s been rough for them the last couple of years,” he said. “… The good things the kids have to understand is, no matter what’s happened in the past, when Week 1 rolls around and the ball’s put on the tee at 7 o’clock in Gibson City, the scoreboard’s going to say 0-0.
“… Every year’s a new year and there’s always opportunities there and just getting the kids to believe in what we’re trying to do offensively and defensively, I think are things that will allow us to be successful.”
Hageman says he had a "wonderful experience" and a "great time" coaching at Salt Fork, where the field is named for his dad, Dan Hageman. While there, he also coached his two older sons, Evan and Payton. A change, though, was needed.
“Sometimes, you’re just ready to kind of look out a new window,” Joe Hageman said.
Now, Tremont will get a taste of a new-look offense and defense. He was the offensive coordinator for Salt Fork from 2009 until his resignation this past November. Establishing the run will be the priority on offense.
“I’ve been a big believer in, and we base things out of the wing-T for a long time,” Hageman said. "Obviously, true of any small high school coach, you kind of tailor that to the kids you get on a certain year.
“I still think to be successful at a small high school, first and foremost, you got to be able to run the ball. That kind of sets everything else up.”
'No place better': New Metamora football coach aims to maintain program's historic legacy
From a defensive standpoint, Salt Fork ran a 4-4 under Hageman, who began his career coaching defense at Downs Tri-Valley.
“I’ve kind of lived on ball sides of the ball,” he said.
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For Tremont to compete with its league mates, according to Hageman, it will take time in the summer to get physically and mentally prepared. Time in the weight room along with conditioning will be the focus throughout the offseason.
Hageman will also rely on his returning players to help boost numbers.
“They’re always going to be the best recruiters for the program,” he said, “the kids that are currently involved. My No. 1 goal is to make football something that’s enjoyable for them, something that they want to be a part of.
“I think that’s the best way to go about trying to get the largest number of athletes in school involved is to make it a program that kids are excited about and want to be a part of.”
Can blueprint become reality? Limestone's new football coach eyes expectation of success
His wife, Jennifer, and him have already bought a house in Tremont, but are waiting to move once the school year ends. Hageman’s youngest son will be a sophomore this fall.
Plus, Hageman is the Salt Fork head baseball coach and junior high athletics director.
“I’m trying to balance the looking ahead,” he said, “and enjoying the moments I’m having with the kids of Salt Fork. It’s kind of an interesting dynamic.”
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football: Tremont hires former Salt Fork coach Joe Hageman
Continue reading...
