No, Wahoo Neumann's Tim Turman won't get a chance to coach in a state championship game this year.

But on the bright side, his two sons will. Though they don't tease their dad about it.

No way.

“They know better than that,” Tim said. “They'd be in pretty big trouble.”

Tim and wife Dianne will be at Memorial Stadium tonight when son Seth — the offensive coordinator at Millard West — tries to help the Wildcats repeat as Class A champion against Millard South. And they'll return Tuesday night to watch son Matt — head coach at Omaha Skutt — lead the SkyHawks against Aurora in the Class B final.

“It's great that they both made it,” Tim said. “I'm proud of what our boys have accomplished.”

The fact that Matt and Seth have followed their father down the coaching path is not a surprise. As the second and third oldest of the six Turman kids, both remember growing up as student managers for their dad at Wahoo Neumann before eventually playing for him.

“The grade school and the high school are about 1½ blocks apart,” Matt said. “From second grade on, we'd walk to practice and get everything ready. I'm guessing neither one of us missed a practice through grade school and later when we played in high school.”

Tim, who has guided the Cavaliers since 1980, coached both sons before watching them go off to play quarterback in college — Matt at Nebraska and Seth at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Matt has coached the SkyHawks since 2002, though he took a one-year sabbatical in 2007 while his wife was on a medical-school residency. He led Skutt to the school's first and only state title in 2005 when the SkyHawks defeated McCook 6-0 for the Class B crown.

The team is on a roll again this year, going 12-0 while holding down the No. 2 slot in the ratings most of the season. Skutt plays tough defense and has found success on offense by utilizing its speed under the direction of versatile quarterback Christian Dudzik.

Aurora enters Tuesday night's title game undefeated and ranked No. 1. The Huskies are out to repeat as state champs, beating Beatrice 20-14 in the 2008 title game.

“I haven't seen them play this year,” Matt said, “but I hear they're big and fast. We'll definitely have a challenge ahead of us.”

That game will come one night after Seth's big challenge — trying to find a way for his offense to score more points than powerful Millard South. The top-ranked Patriots average 47 points per game and had no trouble with Millard West early in the season, shutting out the defending champion Wildcats 28-0.

“We've made some changes offensively since that game,” Seth said. “We'll have to match them score for score, and that won't be easy.”

One change since that shutout loss has come at quarterback, where Zach Whitham has taken over the controls and Zach Leinbaugh has moved to safety. Since then, the team has responded by rattling off nine straight wins.

“Whitham is more of a passer and Leinbaugh is more of a runner,” Seth said. “Both guys have made important contributions to our team.”

Seth's work as an offensive innovator isn't lost on Millard West head coach Kirk Peterson, who often credits his assistant during postgame interviews. Seth will mix in direct snaps to running backs and isn't afraid to take a chance on riskier razzle-dazzle plays.

“There are times when you get the feeling that you've got to take a shot,” he said. “It's high risk and high reward, but it still makes the other team think about things, even if you're not successful.”

Seth has been an assistant at Millard West for seven years, and it is his goal to someday become a head coach. But he's quick to add that he is enjoying his time as a top aide with the Wildcats.

“Coach Peterson is a great guy to work with,” he said. “He gives me free reign to do a lot with the offense, and I appreciate the faith he has in me.”

Seth also gets major input from his dad and older brother, Matt.

“We're talking football all the time,” Seth said. “That's just the way it is in our family.”

It will definitely be a family affair in Lincoln this week. Matt will be in the stands cheering for Seth's Wildcats tonight and Seth will return the favor Tuesday night when the SkyHawks play.

And, of course, mom and dad — who have been married 38 years — will be there both nights.

“If it can't be me coaching for a state title,” Tim Turman said, “then seeing those two try to win titles is the next best thing.”

Contact the writer:

444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com

« High Schools

Share