By Greg Halbleib
BLOOMINGTON – Joe Walters will be an Intercity head football coach this season after all.
Central Catholic High School announced Monday morning that Walters will take over the Saints program. Walters resigned as head football coach at Bloomington High School last fall after two seasons with the Purple Raiders and a record of 9-9.
“It’s definitely the old school way of doing it. I obviously know that we have a lot of work to do. A lot of coaches are taking next week off to get a break before the season, but that won’t be the case for me and my staff for sure,” Walters said. “A lot of those things that you do really need the summer I’ve been able to see, not with the idea in mind that I would be the head coach, but with the idea in mind that I was supposed to be advising the head coach as to what we would be doing.”
Walters was head coach at Peoria Notre Dame for six seasons with a record of 42-23 before moving to Bloomington.
Walters stated a desire to return to coaching in a faith-based setting after his resignation from the Purple Raiders program. He joined the Central Catholic boys basketball coaching staff as an assistant shortly after resigning from Bloomington.
“I’m thankful that (Central Catholic) gave me the opportunity. At first I didn’t know if I would apply for it because I didn’t know with the short notice if I could pull it all together, and then I prayed on it all weekend and then I realized that it is really what I am supposed to be doing with my time,” added Walters. “I just was not sure how it would end up, so I am very thankful that God had a hand in it and it worked out the way that I hoped it would.”
Walters added with being on the sidelines during the off-season as an assistant, he was able to get to know the kids and draw up a game plan of what to do come training camp in two weeks.
“I have been a head coach for many years so I have a pretty good feel of what needs to be done,” added Walters. “The question is, is two weeks enough time? Well, I guess if we worked 20 hours a day it probably would get close. I was also on the staff with Mike (Moews) so I know the kids a little bit as well. I don’t think if I hadn’t been on the staff I would be very comfortable right now. I know who they are and I have seen them practice.”
Walters takes over the Saints from Mike Moews, who resigned last week after five seasons as head coach and more than 30 years with the program.
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
