Lynette Johnson, Race Director for the Star Valley Half Marathon, stepped into the SVI Radio studio during First Bank of Wyoming Sports Friday to promote this year’s half marathon. Registration is open now at StarValleyHalfMarathon.com. Proceeds from this year’s race will be donated to a scholarship fund benefiting the children of Cassie Clinger.

(0:00) Speaking with Sid Chock, new head football coach of the Cameron Rangers. Sid, (0:04) thank you so much for taking a few minutes to be with us today. Oh, yeah, glad to be here.

(0:09) First off, why not have you introduce yourself just a little bit to our listeners, (0:14) your background, where you come from in regards to how you got here and why you wanted this job? (0:21) Oh, yeah, so I’m actually from Cameron. My family moved there when I was three, (0:25) so consider it pretty much born and raised for the most part. So, you know, I was just very proud (0:32) to be back in Cameron.

So when that job opened up, it was just a big opportunity. When I grew up (0:37) there, they were kind of the team on top playing for state titles. You know, my older brother was (0:42) on the undefeated 05 state championship team.

And by the time I got to be playing there, we (0:47) weren’t going for titles necessarily, but we were contending in the playoffs consistently. (0:53) And then by the time I’d graduated, I’d got my first job in Rock Springs and spent my past seven (0:59) years here. I’ve been the defensive and special teams coordinators at the freshman and JV level (1:06) and an offensive coordinator at the varsity level and coached all position groups.

So that was my (1:12) background in football coaching. I’ve also coached track and help with swimming and some other sports (1:17) and done some personal training with kids and athlete performance. And so that was my background (1:23) in coaching, which all was able to give me the experience I need to leave me back home and do (1:29) everything we can to turn this program back into what it was when I was growing up there.

(1:34) Obviously going to be exciting news for people to hear that. (1:38) Sid, what are some things that you would like to start with? Maybe let’s start with like a (1:44) team philosophy. What, what to you is, uh, is camera football? (1:49) Yeah, no.

So one of the big things we’re trying to do is, uh, really put and change on the culture (1:55) a little bit there. And so as far as our team philosophy, our Tim team, uh, mantras, uh, (2:00) when the day we’re really going to try and focus on ourselves and take everything one step at a (2:06) time. So we’re going to focus on three specific standards when we get there and that’s, uh, (2:11) effort, discipline, and team is really focusing on the process and being the best we can every (2:16) single day.

And so me and my staff who’ve, I’ve assembled, I’ve set some stuff in place to kind (2:21) of really tie some actual numbers to those standards and measure it throughout the summer (2:26) and have kids work towards those to, um, unlock achievements and, um, incentives for every time (2:33) they display those by living the mantra and philosophy of when the day and make yourself (2:38) better than you were yesterday. And if we can focus on that and make ourselves better, (2:42) then the results can usually fall into place. Let’s, uh, let’s talk about, uh, some of your (2:47) staff.

You talked about assembling, uh, some, some guys to help you out. Who’s who’s on your staff. (2:52) Yeah.

So one of them, his name is Alec Rudy. He’ll be our strength and conditioning coach and (2:57) special teams coordinator. He was also actually on the, uh, undefeated Oh five state championship (3:03) team that I mentioned along with my older brother.

Another one, his name is, uh, (3:08) a Q Peter. Now he’s also a former Ranger. He just recently graduated from Billings, (3:13) Montana, played some football up there.

He’ll be the defensive coordinator for us. (3:18) And then another, our other staff member is Jake Jackman. He’s been on staff there for the past (3:23) four seasons.

So it’s great to have him as well, to have, uh, some insight on how things have been (3:28) going to help, uh, with the transition and everything. So pretty much a new staff with the (3:33) exception of Jake and a lot of, uh, former Ranger alumni in there as well. So it’s really good.

(3:40) Seems to be a theme, uh, you’ve, uh, you’ve assembled kind of the, kind of a, uh, a camera (3:47) pride type of, of coaching roster. Oh, yes. Yeah.

It’s real exciting. Uh, when you look at the, (3:54) the, obviously it’s a, always a challenge and everybody, every school is in some version of it. (4:00) Uh, when they’re, when they’re trying to build a culture and a winning system, uh, you look at the, (4:06) the, the two way West in particular, we’ve talked a lot about that, uh, on our show.

It’s a, it’s a (4:13) very tough conference. And so obviously you’re going to be going up against, uh, some, some (4:18) teams that are trying to do the same thing you are, and that is get to the top consistently. (4:23) Uh, what are some things that you feel like, uh, that you and your staff are going to be able to (4:29) implement that’ll, that’ll help you help you climb that ladder? Yeah, I think, uh, well, (4:34) first and foremost, I’m always gonna emphasize to our staff and our team that, you know, we always (4:39) focus on ourselves.

The more we try to, you know, you obviously game plan for your opponent, (4:44) find their tendencies, find what they do offensively and defensively and prepare for that. (4:49) But, you know, when you try and use the fear of the advantages of your opponent to the motivator, (4:55) then usually that doesn’t perform well. So, um, predominantly what I’m going to use for our team (5:02) and our staff is to focus on us playing our best and then we’ll game plan accordingly to what our (5:07) opponent does.

Um, but to really climb the ladder and beat those teams as well as, uh, we’ll have (5:14) a whole new system that, um, any of the other teams has seen. And what I prefer offensively (5:19) as a pro style offense to where we’ll use multiple personnel group innings and multiple formations (5:24) to, but you still run the same concepts that can be easy for us, but more challenging for the defense. (5:29) And similarly on defense, where we’ll use a, uh, particular defense that we can still put our (5:36) players in the best position for success, really playing to our players advantage as opposed to (5:41) trying to get our players that fit our scheme, have our scheme fit our players.

(5:46) So that way it kind of put all those together to give us advantage over our opponents. (5:50) Speaking with, uh, coach Sid chalk, the new head coach of the camera Rangers football team. (5:54) Uh, Sid, you just talk about kind of working the program to the players.

Do you have, (5:59) uh, have you had a chance to really meet and, and, and talk to some of your players? (6:05) Yeah, I have a little bit. So currently I am still in rock spring. So (6:09) there was, I went back, went back home and there was, uh, happened to be an assembly that day.

(6:15) So that was my first kind of meeting. I came out and this was unexpected. So, but it was (6:20) exciting at the same time.

There happened to be an assembly that day. I came out, (6:24) introduced myself to the whole student body. And that was the day of assistant coach interviews, (6:29) actually, when I was fortunate enough to get my staff assembled.

And then shortly after that, (6:33) we had our first team meeting. So then I got to meet the whole staff then. (6:37) And then just recently we shared, um, I shared the announcement to who our, uh, squad leaders (6:43) are going to be as we’re going to have a squad leader meeting here in a couple of days.

(6:48) You know, let’s, let’s say there’s some, somebody out there that maybe hasn’t been involved, (6:54) uh, up to this point, but maybe this sparks a little bit of excitement. What would you tell (6:58) them as far as saying, Hey, come out and be part of the camera Ranger squad. (7:03) I would just say, we’ve got some great momentum coming and, you know, anyone that (7:07) we’ll take anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of it.

And, you know, and so (7:11) success is not done through just a couple of people. It takes everybody, you know? So (7:16) the more people we have to drive the success and get this train going, we’ve already got a lot of (7:21) coal in the engine. You know, we can just use more coal and just get the thing going and let’s take, (7:27) make this train to train success all the way through.

So let’s get everyone on this train (7:31) and let’s keep it moving. So join us. Sid, anything that we haven’t talked about that (7:35) that’s on your mind that you might want to mention? Um, no, nothing.

I think this was (7:41) a great interview and I am just so excited for where this can, where it’s been going and where (7:46) it can go to. So now I’m just excited to get rolling into all the summer stuff and excited (7:50) to get back home and have us all get together. Everything’s looking great so far.

Sid chalk, (7:56) new head football coach of the camera Rangers. Sid, we look for, (7:59) look forward to talking to you again and thank you so much for your time today.