The historic turning point continues in the Grand Rapids Union football program

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. week two.

Second-year head coach Don Fellows has already made a big turnaround.

“To be honest with you, I think the success has been so fast because our kids have really bought in and we have a great parent group,” Fellows said. “A lot of people say ‘well my kids show up,’ but our kids have really been, I mean, since I’ve been there, our core team hasn’t missed a day, and it’s in the print room and learning football. All in all, our kids are fully invested and our administration.”

Grand Rapids Union football kicked off

Fellows took on the role of Union after an excellent run by Grand Rapids Christian, where he led the Eagles State Championship in 2012.

He says the opening of the Red Hawks stood out from him when he knew his run was coming to an end in Christian.

“We looked at everything,” Fellows said of him and his family. “Were I going to go back to college coaching? And what jobs are there? We had a friend who approached Patty and I went to dinner and they brought up the situation in the Union, and you know, I think most people understand my heart and my brother’s heart.”

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Fellows says his background is similar to some of his players.

“We’re from single mothers,” she added. “He raised us pretty much and the sport was everything in everything.”

He understands the challenges of the Union’s agenda, but accepts them.

“A lot of people see this as a black and white thing, I consider it more of a socioeconomic part, so I grew up in a situation where things weren’t easy for our family and if not for Football I would never be in that situation now,” Fellows said. “I’m not saying it was an easy decision to get to work, but when I got it in my hands and started to be around our kids, it has been a big invitation for us.”

Jason Hutton / FOX 17

Fellows says his biggest thing has been preaching discipline with his players.

“It takes kids to responsibility, takes them to the printing room and if you miss a workout, you said half in the game,” Fellows said. “It’s (a) hard work to do it, but you teach life lessons along the way and I have a great coaching staff that gathers kids, makes sure they’re in exercise, and makes sure they get proper nutrition and sleep, then take the kids home later At the same time, driving is best, because that’s when you develop relationships with these kids. “

The Union has now won consecutive games for the first time since 2003 and Fellows says it hopes to raise expectations within the program.

“It started the first day you started believing in self-confidence,” he added. “There are things going on where players have to feed our personalities as coaches, I don’t care if it’s January or we go to the lake today, I don’t care what we do, it’s going to be We’ve had two of these games, now we’re getting into big boys football, and we’re going to deal with some adversity and I accept it in a way. “

Jason Hutton / FOX 17

The Red Hawks will face Mona Shores in week three before Holland, Zeeland East, Zeeland West, Wyoming and Reeths-Puffer end the season.

“What are the kids going to make more efficient? Like I said, we give everything we have,” Fellows said. “We’re not going in like ‘eh, let’s see what happens,’ we’re trying to win football matches.”

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