Nilles excited to add ‘his own twists’ on offense

BELLE PLAINE — There will be a new face at the helm this season as the Belle Plaine football team begins official practice Monday.

Head boys track and field coach and physical education teacher Scott Nilles accepted the head football coach job near the end of last school year.

It is a role that Nilles is excited for.

“Taking the head football job was another opportunity to take a bigger role in a sport that I love,” Nilles said.

The past couple of years Nilles has been the defensive coordinator, but with a background in offense, Nilles is looking forward to adding his own twists to the offensive scheme.

“I'm most excited about calling plays and being more involved with the offense,” Nilles said. “I'm excited to keep that strong ground and pound tradition that is Belle Plaine football and to put my own twists in the offense as well.”

Aside from being the head boys track coach, Nilles has been head girls basketball coach the last five seasons. With the new gig, Nilles decided it was best to let someone else take over that role.

The change will also allow Nilles to have more family time in the winter, he said. He became a father this month.

By keeping the track job, Nilles can build both programs off each other. Being a well-rounded track and field athlete has many physiological benefits when it comes to football.

“It’s my hope that the two programs will feed off each other and help build one another,” Nilles said. “Usually our best football players are also our best track athletes, and we need as many multisport athletes as we can get in a small town.

“I was a three sport athlete growing up and I always preach once a season is over to be as involved as possible in other things.”

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The Plainsmen are coming off their highest winning percentage in a season (. 778) since 2008. Nilles will look to build off that and continue the culture that has been built with a young team.

“Belle Plaine has a strong football culture, and the guys that are out for football buy into what we are doing,” Nilles said. “My goal going forward is to get more guys out so we can continue that strong Belle Plaine football tradition.”

Being in 8-player certainly helps with lower numbers out, but the Plainsmen have slightly increased their numbers the past few years.

“In years past the biggest concern has been numbers,” Nilles said. “It's tough to get the younger guys developed when there is no JV.”

The Plainsmen will have 21 players out this season; only three of those are seniors.

“Hopefully we stay healthy enough all year to get a full JV schedule in so the younger guys can develop and get game reps,” Nilles said.

Nilles’ first game as head coach is Aug. 29 versus Colo-Nesco.