[tps_title]West Chester East Vikings [/tps_title]
Vikings seek stability under new head coach Stephen
WEST GOSHEN >> After settling on a new house during the first week of training camp, West Chester East coach Scott Stephen candidly stated he hoped he never had to go through that again.
West Chester East is hoping for some stability as well, as Stephen became the Vikings’ fourth head coach in eight years. 
Stephen, who is in his ninth year on the staff and most recently coached receivers and coordinated the pass game under former coach Dave Gueriera, has some foundation to build on, at least.
The Vikings are coming off their first playoff appearance and victory since 2006, and while they lost a lot to graduation, the attitude remains positive.
“The senior class wants to continue what was started last year,” Stephen said. “They’re really focused on getting back there and building on what’s been started.”
When the stress rises during Stephen’s first go as head man, he’ll have a trusty option to lean on in senior running back Jared Cooper.
As a junior, Cooper totaled 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, including five scores in two playoff games. With many of the other offensive contributors gone from last year, Cooper will be the focal point of every opposing defensive game plan.
“It’s going to be challenging, but we have other great skill players to take the pressure off me,” Cooper said. “If I can’t, we have other guys who can make plays.”
Ryan Cassidy will take snaps as a junior, and will have junior Michael Gray and sophomore Kyle Cichanowsky to disperse the ball to.
Malyk Tucker is the veteran presence on the offensive line, and sophomore Hugh Lemmon-Kishi gives the Vikes some size. Stephen is also high on sophomore John Wileczek.
The repeating theme is youth, and without guys like JD Carroll and Mike Salloum providing leadership on both sides of the ball, Cooper becomes Stephen’s voice on the field.
“He’s tremendous,” Stephen said of Cooper. “From 7:30 to 2:30 and from 2:30 to 5:30, he does everything the right way. He’s a leader in more ways than one. Having him back gives us a very talented player.”
After Joe Carroll retired from East after the 2006 season, there have been five other coaching changes in the Ches-Mont National Division. The Vikings are on their fourth coach since. The carousel has made any true progress or momentum hard to hold onto.
“The transition has gone so smoothly,” Cooper said. “We knew coach G (Gueriera) always wanted to coach at Malvern Prep, but we all know coach Stephen and the transition has gone so well.”
East is also determined not to regress.
“There’s a lot of determination on this team and I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people this year,” Cooper said. “It raises the bar. The goal is not only to win more playoff games but to get as far as possible. We know what skill we have to go even further than last year.”
Road warriors
East will host Council Rock North on opening night of the season before heading on the road five of the next six games. Along with the Indians, East will travel to Radnor and West Chester Rustin for its nonleague slate. The Vikings will close out the season with three home games, including the season finale against Sun Valley in the interleague crossover.
Hall of Fame resume
Coaching the quarterbacks, Stephen has a history at the position. Just last year Stephen was inducted into the Glen Rock High School Athletic Hall of Fame after being named a 1st-Team All County quarterback in his hometown in New Jersey. Stephen then went on to play for Franklin and Marshall.
By Nate Heckenberger; nateheckenberger@21st-centurymedia.com
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