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.

WACO head coach Chad Edeker (pictured) was the 2022 recipient of the Iowa Football Cocahes Association’s Class 8-Player Coach of the Year award. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

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.

The WACO football team runs out of the tunnel during their state championship game against Remsen St. Mary’s. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

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