WACO’s Edeker named 8-Player Coach of the year

The Iowa Football Coaches Assocation honored WACO head football coach Chad Edeker earlier this week with the 2022 Class 8-Player Coach of the Year award.

Edeker was one of seven coaches to earn the award, one for each class.

The 2022 Warriors went 13-1, winning every game before the Class 8-Player state championship game, where they would settle for second place.

WACO started the year with an impressive 42-20 victory over Southeast Warren at the 8-Player showdown in Martensdale. The Warriors would go on to dominate the districts, scoring wins over rivals New London and Winfield-Mount Union in a couple of the more anticipated games of the fall in the process.

WACO hosted three playoff games, all of which were dominant Warrior victories. WACO beat Martensdale St. Mary’s 57-14, defeated Central City 48-12, and rolled up a 52-7 win against Montezuma.

Edeker led the Warriors to a 29-21 win over Newll-Fonda in the state semifinals at the UNI-Dome.

The Warriors were done in 38-16 by Remsen St. Mary’s in the state championship, but the season marked the furthest run for the program in school history.

2022 IFCA STATE COACHES OF THE YEAR

8-Player: Chad Edeker, WACO

Class A: Mike Parkinson, Lynnville-Sully

Class 1A: Nate Mechaelsen, Underwood

Class 2A: Curt Ritchie, Williamsburg

Class 3A: Lance Pedersen, Mount Vernon

Class 4A: Mark Hoekstra, Carlisle

Class 5A: Brian Woodley, Johnston