BY CHANCE WEEKS-WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter

There is a new face among Central Washington University athletics. Newly hired head football coach Ian Shoemaker will take the reins of the Wildcats team this upcoming season.

Shoemaker will be making his first head coaching appearance this year in place of interim coach John Picha. Picha filled in for Blaine Bennett, who was fired a day before fall practice started in 2013.

Before taking this head coaching opportunity, Shoemaker was the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at St. Cloud State University located in Minnesota. With Shoemaker at offensive coordinator, St. Cloud State was ranked fifth in the nation and has made the playoffs three times out of the last four seasons.

He started his coaching career as a grad assistant, coaching the tight ends and running backs for two years at Western Washington University while furthering his sports psychology studies.

After leaving WWU, he went on to be the offensive coordinator at the University of Saint Mary in Kansas. He then moved on to Minot State University in North Dakota where he was the passing game coordinator from 2000-2003.

From there, he began his intercollegiate career as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Kenyon College for three years. From there he moved on to Baldwin Wallace College as the offensive coordinator.

Shoemaker was born and raised in Graham, where he attended and graduated from Orting High School before going on to Grinnell College and obtaining his degree in psychology. That’s when he knew that he wanted to make a career out of coaching.

“Once I got in [to sports psychology], I couldn’t give up coaching and I couldn’t give up being around the sport,” Shoemaker said.

Offense is Shoemaker’s specialty, with his entire coaching career coming on the offensive side of the ball. While he means to have a firm grip on the offense, Shoemaker will not take immediate action on the coaching staff.

“We’re evaluating the staff in place first and foremost to kind of interview on the job,” Shoemaker said.

Although he just started his new job, Coach Shoemaker said he is already taking the necessary steps to keep Central on top of its game by taking on the ever-difficult task of securing a great recruiting class for the upcoming season.

“The plan right now is putting my face out there, selling the vision and what I see and what is possible, and try to get those kids involved in that vision,” Shoemaker said.

Being new to the program hasn’t hindered the recruiting process according to Shoemaker.

“I went out and saw these kids this week, and every one of them was still very interested in one of the top schools on their list,” Shoemaker said.

Not only does he serve as a coach, but he also serves as a mentor for young student athletes

“As [coaching] has evolved, I’ve made it into a career. I really think I can effect change in kids’ lives,” Shoemaker said.

The first-year head coach will be looking to build up a young and talented Wildcat football team similar to last season’s team, which won seven games.