Big Horn Basin Football Camp

Another Big Horn Basin Football Camp is in the books, held last weekend at LeRoy Hayes Memorial Field, one of the founders of the camp 29 years ago.

According to camp director Heath Hayes, numbers were up this year with 162 athletes participating.

"It wasn't a record breaking year," Hayes said, "but we had about 20 more players than last year."

Along with individual training in offense, defense and special teams, the players had 7 on 7 competitions to try out the new skills they learned.

What some folks may not realize is the level of skill the camp coaches bring to the field.

For instance, Quinn Brown is the offensive line coach for William Jewell College.

Brown played four years with the University of Missouri and coached for six seasons with William Jewell College, the University of Wyoming and University of Northern Colorado before returning to William Jewell as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.

This is Brown's third time coaching at the camp and said he returns because of how great the camp is.

"This is a great camp because of the experienced coaches that are running the drills," he said. "The coaches at the BHB camp are focused on developing fundamentals and having fun."

Building a relationship with his players is at the forefront of his coaching philosophy.

"If I build that relationship they want to work harder for me than anyone else," he said. "At BHB I want the players to gain a greater understanding of the fundamentals of playing offensive line. Every coach teaches the techniques of playing offensive line a little bit different. I want them to learn that we are teaching the same thing their high school coach is teaching, but maybe just in different words.

"Hopefully, they pick up on one or two new things that make them a better player while helping them gain confidence in what their high school coach is teaching them as well."

John Reiners is starting his seventh season as the head football coach at Black Hills State University, with a total of 10 years with the program. In all, he's been coaching on the college level for 25 years and in 2016 was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference coach of the year.

He first attended BHB camp in 1994 and has been back nearly every year because the tradition of the camp brings him back along with the camaraderie with all of the other coaches who come back every year.

"I want to develop young men in the game of football while also teaching them life skills along the way," he said. "Here at BHSU we have a set of core values that we want to instill in each kid that will help them achieve their best, both on and off the field."

He added that of all the camps he works with in the summer, he loves this one the most.

"It is great for our staff at BHSU to connect with all the Wyoming coaches that attend and the history of this camp is unrivaled by any in the area," he said. "The town of Thermopolis embraces us during our stay and I have never brought a coach who did not want to go back after attending just one time."

Making his 12th appearance at the BHB camp was Green River High School coach Scott Schultz.

Schultz has been coaching for 20 years and has been part of the Wyoming Shrine Bowl coaching staff four times.

So why does he continue to come back?

"The atmosphere of the camp and the campers," he said, "the coaches interactions and rapport. It is fun!"

Schultz said he's always wanted to give back to what made him who he is – coaches.

"I want every student athlete to come away with three things," he said. "Desire to be good in all aspects of life, pride in themselves and what they have and will accomplish, and dedication to work hard and attack the challenges that they face in life with everything they have, every day, even when they're down.

"I want these athletes to come away from the camp with quality football skills and a new or renewed passion for the game."

Tony Yerkovich made his seventh trip to Thermopolis for the camp because, "I want the players to learn some skills, but most importantly, grow a love for the game because its the greatest team sport there is!"

Yerkovich is entering his 25th year of coaching after graduating from the University of Wyoming. His resume' shows he's been the assistant coach and head coach at Rock Springs High School, a volunteer coach at the Rock Springs junior high as well as assistant coach.

He was twice named the Wyoming Coaches Association Assistant Football Coach of the Year and has been an assistant coach with the Shrine Bowl three times.

The camaraderie that's been developed over the years with the other coaches is what brings him back year after year.

"Heath and his dad have done a tremendous job of networking with all the coaches," he said. "I've learned something new every year that I've attended as well. And of course, I enjoy working with the youngsters."

His coaching philosophy is centered around building young people to be productive, high-character people.

"Our student athletes learn so many life lessons through athletics," he said, "and winning/losing are only a fraction of it. Relationships, teamwork, work ethic, grit, perseverance, leadership and adversity are only a few of the many things learned through athletics.

"These are lifetime experiences that they will be able to use the rest of their lives."