Mike Sherman, the former head coach of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and Texas A&M University, has decided to take his talents back to the high school realm.
According to the Cape Cod Times, Sherman has been named the new head football coach at Nauset Regional High School in Eastham, Mass. The Massachusetts native began his coaching career at Stamford High School in Stamford, Conn., way back in 1978, before working his way up the ranks over ensuing decades.
He broke into NFL coaching in the mid-90s, taking over as the Packers’ tight ends coach for two seasons before being installed as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator in 1999. After one season in that role, the Brett Favre-led Packers brought him on as head coach from 2000-05, and he led them to five straight winning seasons and four straight playoff appearances from 2001-04.
Following a 4-12 season in 2005, the Packers parted ways with Sherman, which caused him to take over as the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator for the following two seasons. From there, he became Texas A&M’s head football coach in 2008, a role he would hold for the next four seasons. Most recently, he served as the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Given his vast NFL and college experience, what caused Sherman to return to his roots as a high school football coach? As he told the paper, it wasn’t initially in his plans.
“When I came to the Cape a year ago I felt I was done in coaching,” said Sherman. “I explored other outside opportunities, but I kept coming back to the fact I missed coaching. I missed the players and the preparation that goes into a season. I missed the ebb and flow, handling the highs and the lows.
“I have always admired high school coaches who give their time to their players. They have a chance to impact young lives. That is exciting and I’m looking forward to having an effect on these kids’ lives.”
Sherman is well aware that he won’t be coaching the likes of Favre or Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill anymore, which may limit the types of schemes he installs. Luckily, as he told the paper, his opponents will be dealing with the same restrictions.
“Everything is relative,” he said. “Maybe we don’t have a Pro Bowl player at QB, but there is a good chance our opponent isn’t defending with a Pro Bowl cornerback, either. We’ll adjust to wherever our talent leads us. If we can run it, we’ll run it. If we can throw it, we’ll throw it. If we can do both, we will.”
If he needs help making the adjustment back to high school, he could always call Favre, who served as the offensive coordinator at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 2012 and 2013. Oak Grove won the Mississippi Class 6A state football championship under Favre’s guidance in 2013, although he has since taken on a reduced role with the team, according to The Clarion-Ledger.