The new offensive coordinator for Warren County High School football is Kenny Shultz. 

Matt Turner says he tried to bring Shultz here when he became head coach last year. Shultz had a coaching obligation at the time that prevented his return to Warren County. Now in 2020, Kenny Shultz is back in his hometown. 

As a high school football player, Shultz played for Glen Campbell and Heath Woods. Shultz said, “I learned a lot from coach Woods and coach Turner is a lot like Woods. Matt grew up here. He’s a Warren County alumnus. Matt went away to play football at UTC. He won games. Matt knows how to be a winner.”

Turner brought Rick Stewart to Warren County when he became head coach to teach and help install the team’s defense and offense. Coach Shultz is fully on board with that offensive system.  

Coach Shultz said, “We run a pistol wing-T. This is not a shotgun offense. The pistol describes where the quarterback is standing. In the shotgun, the quarterback is standing 4-5 yards back.”

“In the pistol, our quarterback is standing 3 yards back. The snap is faster. Our running backs get downhill faster. The pistol gets the quarterback off the line of scrimmage so he can read the defense.”

“We do a lot of read-option stuff,” Shultz continued. “The pistol formation really helps. Every play we run has a read-option in it. For example, if we are running a play to the left side, the quarterback has the option of giving the tailback the ball or pulling it out. If the quarterback sees something he doesn’t like, he can choose another play. Our quarterback doesn’t check off the play at the line. The quarterback will make the decision based on what he sees reading the defense. The option is post snap.”

Shultz expanded, “I know this sounds crazy, but we leave one player unblocked.  We want to make that unblocked player on defense make the wrong decision. The quarterback makes the read of the defense, and then decides which option to run. Our job is to make sure we know which guy we are leaving unblocked.”

Shultz said, “If we have an outside linebacker coming into the interior of the line, that is a pull read for our quarterback. We then run outside on that option play. If the linebacker runs up field, we will try and run behind him.”

A factor in making the read-option work is speed. The faster the offense executes, the less time the defense has to respond.  

Shultz believes speed should be an asset with C.J. Taylor and Clay Thompson performing at quarterback. Coach Shultz said, “They are really close as far as speed is concerned. I don’t think anyone should be surprised if we see both C.J. and Clay taking snaps from center this year.”

“I am a big believer in that we are going to put the best 11 players on the field this year who can help our team win. It is my decision who starts at quarterback this year. Who starts is a decision with all position coaches. Donnie Harris is our quarterback coach. It comes down to this … whoever starts, people will think it is my decision. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Competition breeds excellence. I believe that wholeheartedly. Right now, the guys competing at quarterback are making each other better. There are making each other better on and off the field. They are great friends. They hang out together before practice and after practice. They push each other. They are both unselfish kids. No matter what happens, they both will be on the field.”

Coach Shultz commented on the biggest differences on this football team and the teams he was on at Warren County.  

Shultz said, “There is a lot of athletic talent on this team. There are excellent facilities here. I have enjoyed working with this staff. Matt and I work together very well. Honestly, Matt and I are a lot alike. Coach Camron Bond might be considered a buffer sometimes (laughs). In the grand scheme of things, Matt and I being alike makes us a better football team.”

One major concern for coaches is changing the football culture in Warren County. The WCHS team hasn’t enjoyed a winning season since 1990, a long dry spell.

Shultz said, “We are trying to change that mentality. We are encouraging the kids to believe that getting sweaty, getting stronger, is actually cool. It’s not cool here to do that because we have not been winning here. We have lost for 30 years. We are determined to change that.”