Friday, October 29, 1999
Sheehan turns Oak Hills into winner
Ex-CAPE coach leads Highlanders to first playoff berth
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Steve Sheehan won two state titles at CAPE.
(Josh Biggs photo)
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When Steve Sheehan was hired to coach the Oak Hills football program three years ago, the Highlanders got a proven winner.
That decision is paying dividends. The Highlanders are 7-2 entering tonight's game against Elder and have already clinched the program's first Division I playoff berth.
“Coach Sheehan got everyone fired up the first meeting with the players,” senior Nick Sellet said. “He got everyone believing that we could turn the program around.”
Coming off five consecutive losing seasons, the Highlanders went 7-3 in Sheehan's first season in 1997 and followed with a 6-4 record last year.
“The practices were more intense and everyone knew they had to work harder,” Sellet said. “After we won our first game against Centerville (1997 season), that gave everybody confidence.”
Before coming to Oak Hills, Sheehan was head coach at Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education where he guided the Crusaders to state championships in 1986 (Division II) and 1992 (Division IV).
With the closing of CAPE after the 1992-93 school year, Sheehan took over at Withrow, wher his teaching position was eliminated. He then landed at Oak Hills.
Known as an option coach who seldom called for the pass, Sheehan has learned that in Division I, it takes more than just a running game to win.
“We're throwing the ball well but we haven't done enough of it,” Sheehan said. “If we can't throw against Elder, we're in trouble.”
Sheehan built the CAPE offense around deceptive and quick quarterbacks and tailbacks who were successful getting to the outside.
“We don't have that speed at Oak Hills and we were forced to change,” Sheehan said. “We've gone more to a power running game. By that I mean we run between the tackles instead of going outside.”
Sheehan was confident this would be his best team at Oak Hills with 28 seniors returning. But after the Highlanders lost two of the first four games, he had doubts.
“We turned the ball over seven times against LaSalle but only lost by seven points,” Sheehan said. “That was discouraging but in the last three games, we haven't given it up.”
Said Sellet: “We're not in a conference this season and our only goal is to make the playoffs. We knew after the loss to La Salle we could still make it.”
Injuries to key players forced Sheehan to go with a pair of sophomores, quarterback Rik Menchen and tailback Alex Arinmier, both of whom have exceeded expectations.
“Rik practiced with the varsity but was quarterback for the JV team,” Sheehan said. “He added a running dimension to our attack.”
An option quarterback, Menchen has guided the Highlanders to four consecutive victories.
“We saw things during practice, especially running ability, that was a factor in trying Rik,” Sheehan said. “He has decent speed, is very calm and makes good decisions.”
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