Mike Williams could have walked away three years ago.
Mike Williams is entering his 28th season as Manheim Central's head coach.
Football preview: Manheim Central
That's when Manheim Central's venerable football coach retired from teaching. He could have hung up his clipboard and whistle, packed up and and moved to Florida.
But Williams, 63, remains a fixture at Central.
He's Papa Baron. And he's not going anywhere anytime soon.
"I still really enjoy doing this," Williams said. "What most coaches my age don't enjoy is the off-season and all the work that's involved. I think that's what makes them retire. But I enjoy being in the weight room and going to clinics and camps … and continuing to learn and develop kids' potential."
Williams and his staff had to do a little more developing than normal a year ago, when the Barons finished a very un-Baron-like 6-5 overall. That included a first-round loss in the District 3 Triple-A playoffs for the first time since 2002.
There are 15 district championship trophies and one state championship trophy crammed in the case just outside Central's gymnasium, but the Barons haven't added to that stash since 2005.
Central has come up dry in the Section 2 championship chase the last couple of years, too. Owners of 17 section titles, the Barons haven't finished first in the section race since 2005.
Instead, they watched arch-rival Conestoga Valley claim the crown in 2006, while Solanco and Elizabethtown — two teams Central routinely pushed around during its dominant title runs — shared the title last year, both dealing the Barons humbling losses in the process.
If nothing else, last year's finish — and failing to reach the district final in 2006 — has pushed Williams. He's driven more than ever to bring more trophies to Central's case.
"I have the energy of a 40-year-old," Williams said. "As long as I have my health, I'm going to keep doing this. But I don't want to be like you-know-who (a certain college coach in Pennsylvania). I don't want to stay too long; I don't want to hang around too long."
Williams will be hanging around this season, for sure. And he's hoping this year will be different than last year, when injuries — and a youth movement of sorts — sent the Barons into a downward spiral.
There is a nice nucleus coming back this year.
Senior QB Jeremy Knosp, who missed time in his first two varsity seasons because of injuries, is back to 100 percent. And junior defensive end Dakota Royer is one of the best blitzers in the league, and could be a Division 1 recruit before he's done in Manheim.
There are some holdovers on the line — anchored by returning Section 2 All-Star center Riley Clugston — some hard-hitting linebackers and some nice skill kids in tow.
The pieces are here. Williams is trying to fit them into the puzzle. And he seems more motivated than ever, now that his Barons haven't won anything in a couple of years.
"That he stays here and continues to coach us shows you how much passion he has for Manheim Central, and how much passion he has to keep coaching us," Royer said.
"He's an awesome coach, and he's a great leader out there."
That's because Williams takes a lot of pride in his job. He hasn't rested on his laurels. He hasn't stopped working just because his team has reached any number of pinnacles.
"I'm the head coach, which means I need to work harder than everyone else," Williams said. "I need to be here all the time. I need to be doing as much — if not more work — than my assistant coaches. When I can't do that, I'm outta here."
Williams' goal is to add as many trophies as he can before he steps aside for good.
"Once you get the taste of it, it's hard to not want to get back there," Williams said. "Sure, we'd love to win another state title, but it's so hard. We had to buck a couple of dynasties along the way to do it — Allentown Central Catholic, Strath Haven, Berwick … once you get the taste of playing — and winning — at that high level, you want to get there again."
