Here’s a quick-and-dirty recap of Lincoln alumn Jon Kitna’s introductory press conference. I’ll post more later tonight, but I’ve got to cover Puyallup High offensive lineman Joshua Garnett’s college announcement at 3 p.m.
Jon Kitna’s vision for Lincoln High football is big.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon to introduce the 1991 graduate as head football coach of his alma mater, Kitna spoke about using sports to produce men of integrity and future leaders.
He also stated an ambitious and inspiring goal to turn Lincoln into one of the top football programs in the Northwest.
“A program that will be relevant and competitive statewide within five years,” he said, “and nationally within 10 years.”
More than 100 people, including a few former mayors, local politicians old classmates and teachers, crammed the library at Lincoln to listen to Kitna speak.
Kitna’s vision for success goes far beyond the football field.
“My vision, our vision, for Lincoln High School, football program, in the building, in Tacoma in general, we want to create a family atmosphere for young men, our school and our community through the avenue of a top flight football program.”
The Tacoma School District might help Kitna, and teams at other city schools, achieve athletic success.
Jennifer Kubista, director of student life for the Tacoma School District, said the district is in the process of reevaluating the middle school sports system.
“We are looking at really revamping the whole middle school model,” she said. “Part of that conversation is tackle football. It is the whole system, not just adding football. We want to develop a quality program for our feeder middle schools that feed up into all of our high schools.”
Kitna said he’ll meet with the football team as soon as possible and within the next few days.
“I’m pretty excited,” junior lineman Peau Seigafo said. “We’ve got an NFL player as our coach.”
Kitna said the Abes will no longer run the Wing-T, but he didn’t want to reveal what type of offense he’ll install.
“I know what I want to do and I’ve already got the playbook,” he said with a grin.” I just don’t want to let it out yet.”
Lincoln athletic director Char Davenport contacted Kitna three years ago when Lincoln’s football head coaching position was open. Kitna wasn’t ready then, but he was when Davenport called him again in November and told him the job was available.
“Char and I have had a few conversations throughout the years and she has been instrumental in making this happen,” Kitna said.
This is the kind of man boys will listen to, follow, and emulate on and off the field. His impact will be a positive one in the community by how he changes these boys. This is exciting for the city….Go Abes!
I concur! Jon adds another quality male role model not only to Lincoln HS but the city of Tacoma! Look forward to seeing the culture of youth transpire!
Jon needs to convince Lawyer Milloy to join his staff.
Wow, I bet he will be attracting a lot of talent to Lincoln. Watch out Bellarmine. You now have a challenge !!!!! Just hope he runs a clean program. Non of this Penn State Stuff.
Sounds like a recruiting violation waiting to happen.
I’m sure Kitna will be a good role model for the kids to follow. But his talk about being a “national power” sounds more like a college coach than a high school coach. It’s sad that a HS coach thinks being a “national power” is some sort of goal to strive for. His goals should be to build a good program that teaches kids the fundamentals of the game and at the same time teaches them the importance of an education. If they happen to win a lot of games along the way, all the better. I’d be very interested in how he thinks he can turn them into a national power since high schools are completely dependent on the enrollment in their boundaries. How does he plan to ensure talented kids live withing the Lincoln boundaries.
I have no doubt that Kitna will be a great role model for the kids at Lincoln, but he’s dreaming, playing in the NFL does not automatic lead to being a great coach , to me the whole thing surrounding this hiring smells of some TPS under hand stuff, where is the coach from last year ? when did he step down? and why is Char Davenport making the annoucement about Coach Kitna, oh yeah it to make people think she is still the Ad when at least 2weeks ago, the coach from last year was moved up to Ad so Kitna could become the head coach and they didn’t even post the job so that anyone else had the oppertunity to apply.Its ok to want to have a alum like Jon Kitna around your program but at least do it above the table,state power and national power in five years maybe he took to many hits hahaha
I really hope he can coach, because the things he said about making Lincoln a national power is crazy, he’s coaching at a inner city school,he is not at a private school with money and the ability to offer scholarships to student with talent, we will see how long it will take him to realize coaching and playing are to different worlds.