TENINO – Taking over a program can be difficult for any coach. Taking over a program just weeks before fall camp opens presents another array of challenges.
Tenino Coach Darren Tinnerstet and his assistants are already off and running with the Beavers, however, and his players are quickly catching on and adapting to the staff’s new philosophies.
“This is a really great group,” Tinnerstet said. “The first practice, I think, was a little bit of an eye opener just being a new staff and a new way of doing things … But they picked everything up quickly. I think it’s after practice three, and this feels like practice eight.”
Tinnerstet took over late last month, succeeding Cary Nagel, who resigned after six seasons in early July.
Under Cary Nagel, Tenino ran the Power T scheme, one intent on running the football and one that emphasizes physicality.
While Tinnerstet said he isn’t going to shy away from what brought Tenino success, he is also excited to add his own wrinkles to the offense, one that the players seem to be embracing.
“We still like to run the football,” Tinnerstet said. “The staff we have in place has had very good success running the ball at previous stops … But I like to attack. I like to take shots and get the ball into our playmakers' hands.”
Tinnerstet coached with many of his assistants as part of the staff at Capital High School in Olympia, including former Cougar head coach J.D. Johnson, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Beavers.
Tinnerstet also has two of his former players from Capital on his staff, Taylor Crabill and Ryan Guscott.
“It is the most critical piece of it,” Tinnerstet said when describing the importance of his staff. “You’re only as good as the people you have around you. I wanted guys I knew, I trusted, and they were good at their jobs.”
Tinnerstet added that with little time before camp, it helped tremendously that he didn’t have to teach a new staff about his systems and philosophies. Instead, he has relied on them to help instill those into his players.
Similar to the team’s offensive philosophy, Tinnerstet says Johnson likes to bring a controlled aggression to the defense with his schemes and play calling. The “Hybrid 3-3” defense will focus on constantly pressuring the quarterback.
And just like the offensive side of the ball, the players are responding well.
“Coach Johnson likes to bring pressure, and (our) kids like it and other teams don’t,” Tinnerstet said with a laugh.
While it is his first season in Stone City, Tinnerstet knows that expectations are high after the success the Beavers had over the last two seasons.
In Nagel’s last two seasons, Tenino went a combined 19-4. In 2022, they brought home the school’s first league title since 2013.
“I think we’re right there at the top,” Tinnerstet said about his expectations for league play this season. “We have the talent, I can see that. We have the talent on the roster to compete with those teams.”
And the idea of blending Tenino’s returning talent with fresh concepts has the Beavers chomping at the bit to hit the field in Week 1.
“They’re hungry,” Tinnerstet said. “They’ve been through a lot this summer … I think they just want to focus on football and that’s what we’ve been trying to do as a staff. Concentrate on football and get ready for that first game.”
