Iroquois Football Rewriting its Identity

By : Samuel Hennig / X @SamuelHennig19

In just a few months, Iroquois football has begun to look and feel like a different program. The transformation isn’t accidental.

It’s intentional, structured, and rooted in a new standard the first-year head coach calls The Raider Way; a blueprint built on respect, accountability, integrity, determination, expectations, and resilience.

“We wanted to change the mindset,” the coach said. “We challenge these guys every day to get better one day at a time.”

That shift in mindset is already showing up on the field. Iroquois has opened the season 3–1, a start that reflects not just talent, but a team learning how to work, respond, and compete together.

The coach credits the players’ daily commitment: “The guys have been working really hard… that’s been the main thing.”

A Program Built on Experience and Intention

Though this is his first year as a head coach, he’s no newcomer to building programs. With

more than 20 years of coaching experience, including seven seasons at powerhouse Male High School, he’s learned under legends and brought that knowledge with him.

He’s installed structure, accountability, and leadership expectations that extend beyond football. The team now follows a dress-code tradition: polos on Mondays for JV/Freshman game days, and shirt-and-tie attire on Fridays.

The goal is simple, carry themselves like professionals.

“I want them to be business-like,” he said. “You can tell they feel good about themselves… there’s a whole new energy.”

Teachers, administrators, and alumni have noticed. The school feels different. The community feels engaged. Students are rallying behind the program. The culture shift is spreading beyond the locker room.

A Team With Identity on Both Sides of the Ball

On offense, Iroquois has embraced balance and versatility. Senior Kamar Pinkston has

emerged as a tone-setter on both sides of the ball, while returning senior running backs Dorian Mosley and Jamon Gregory give the Raiders a physical, reliable run game.

Quarterback

Damon Reed has been steady and turnover-free, helping keep the offense efficient.

Defensively, the coach believes the front four can compete with anyone in the state. Seniors

Quinton Thompson and Mark Unseld, sophomore Anthony Ellis, and Mosley rotating on the defensive line form a physical, disruptive unit.

Linebacker Raylan Ratcliffe leads a gritty group that plays bigger than its size, while Pinston and Jeremiah Bradford anchor the secondary. The identity is clear: toughness, discipline, and swarming to the football.

Handling Adversity the Right Way

The coach intentionally tested his team early, taking them to EKU and Bryan Station for

competitive 7-on-7s. He wanted to see how they responded to mistakes, pressure, and

unfamiliar environments. What he saw convinced him they were ready.

“They stayed together. They didn’t point fingers. They competed in every single game.”

That resilience showed up again last week when Iroquois fell behind 8–0 early. Instead of

folding, they marched down the field and scored, then took control of the game.

A Community Rising With Its Team

The excitement around Iroquois football is real. Alumni are returning. Teachers are praising the players’ behavior and leadership. Parents are rallying behind the program. Students are buying into the energy.

The coach sees it, and he knows what it means. “People want to see you succeed,” he told his players. “Now it’s about continuing to make people believe.”

With district play looming and a chance to host playoff games on the horizon, Iroquois is no longer the team opponents expect to roll over. The Raiders are building something — and they’re doing it the right way.