Fairfield has new coach for football

FAIRFIELD - It is a new football season that is fast approaching and Fairfield High School has a new coach to helm its program.

Although Nate Weaton is new at the top position, he is well known in Fairfield athletics.

'I have volunteered with the Fairfield program for two years under Head Coach Matt Jones,” Weaton said. 'That said, I've been around coaching my entire life. I was fortunate to grow up with an uncle who was a longtime Iowa high school head football coach, so I've learned a lot just by watching him.”

Fairfield was 4-5 last season and 2-3 in the district. Weaton intends to improve on those numbers.

'The district race is going to be just as tough as it has been in the past couple of years with great teams all the way around,” Weaton said. 'We'd certainly like to see our win column grow, but that's just a small part of how we will measure success.”

One measure of success for Weaton and the Trojans is growth.

'Our ultimate goal is to facilitate growth with these young men on and off the field,” the coach said. 'If we see this, it will be a successful season no matter what the win/loss record shows.”

Weaton graduated Cedar Falls High School in 1994 and then attended the University of Iowa where he graduated with a B.A. in Economics. He played quarterback during his early high school years, then moved to tight end and defensive end for his senior year. 'I was fortunate to play for one of the great Iowa high school football coaches, Pat Mitchell.”

Mitchell is sixth on the Iowa high school football coaches win list with a 344-138-2 record in 47 years of coaching.

Weaton knows talent is crucial and he will count on his senior leadership this season.

'This year we have 12 great ones on our roster, and I'm confident that they have the leadership and desire to get us where we want to go,” the coach said. 'We're really proud of the younger guys, and the effort that they've put in over the offseason. We will have several of them that will play roles for us on both offense and defense, and we'll depend on them heavily throughout the season.”

Weaton said he is incredibly big on fundamentals and technique. It is important that the Trojans do the little things really well, which will result in playing fast physical football.

'It's nothing too earth shattering, but it is something that I believe can be incredibly effective,” Weaton said. 'Our guys are really strong in fundamentals and technique, and have put a lot of time in studying our playbook to be smart football players. They understand how to do the little things, which we think will translate to great opportunities as we begin to compete.”

Weaton loves the sport of football, and loves being around the young men that choose to play the sport.

'My favorite thing about coaching football is we're not just preparing kids for a game, we are preparing them for life,” Weaton said. 'So many great lessons learned on the football field transfer to situations and challenges that kids will face as they grow up. It's a great feeling to know that you might have an impact on them well past their playing days.”

When one is in love with a sport, is there any thing to dislike?

'Not much, honestly,” Weaton said. 'Each day that I can be on the field with these young men, and the great coaching staff that I have, is a great day.”