Published: June 26, 2006 10:56 pm         

Fettke named new OBA coach

Fairview defensive coordinator Terry Fettke, a one-time Wichita police detective, was hired as Oklahoma Bible Academy’s new head football coach Monday.

Fettke, 43, coached at Fairview since 1997. He coached there with outgoing Trojans coach Mark Boyd, as well as coaching current OBA assistant Jeremy Kliewer.

He takes over a program that is going to 11-man after five seasons in 8-man.

“I’m excited to be here,’’ Fettke said. “This is going to be a good year to start out in 11-man. It will be a good challenge.’’

Fettke and Boyd didn’t talk much about the job before he accepted the reins.

“I didn’t go after it, it just kind of came together,’’ Fettke said. “It was meant to be. I put it in God’s hands.’’

Fettke was attracted by OBA’s Christian school atmosphere.

“It’s a plus being able to spread the good news about God,’’ he said. “You can talk about God without any problems. Not that you couldn’t do that at Fairview. It is a great place, but it’s a plus to be in a Christian atmosphere.’’

OBA headmaster Tim Kuhns was impressed with Fettke.

“He’s the kind of man with the character that we wanted here,’’ Kuhns said. “He’s ready to be a head coach. He’ll bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm into the job. We couldn’t have found a better person.’’

Fettke graduated from Fairview in 1980, but he grew up in Huntsville, Ala., idolizing legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant.

“Football has been embedded in me,’’ he said.

His style resembles Bryant’s.

“We’re going to work very hard to be the best we can be and let everything else take care of itself,’’ he said. “I believe when you do something, it should be to the best of your ability. Anything you do should glorify God.’’

Fettke’s first rule is, “defense wins championships.’’

“If you don’t allow points on the board, it’s hard to get beat,’’ he said. “Offense wins games. We’ll definitely give you something fun to watch on offense.’’

Fettke’s offensive philosophy is flexible. He has coached teams known for passing and others known for their power games.

Fettke’s defenses are known for their creativity. The Yellowjackets ran a base 4-3 defense under Fettke, but lined up in everything from a 3-man to a 6-man front.

“Our defenses will be aggressive,’’ he said. “We won’t be in the same defense every play, that’s for sure.’’

Fettke coached under Lyle Welsh, the only coach in Oklahoma history to have won both an 8-man and 11-man championship, and Chris Cayot at Fairview. He learned under long-time Yellowjacket assistants Mac Wahl and Mark Van Meter as well.

Kuhns said Fettke’s style is much like Boyd’s, but with a twist.

“I think our weightlifting program is going to improve,’’ Kuhns said. “He’s big into weights and getting kids in there year round. He might demand a little more from the kids.’’

At Fairview, Fettke consistently had four or five lifters qualify for the state meet. He plans to have a powerlifting team at OBA.

“We’re going to have some fun in the weight room,’’ he said. “Lifting builds some lifelong lessons; plus it helps you in athletics.’’

He is excited to be reunited with Kliewer, the quarterback of the 1999 state championship team. Fettke is looking for a replacement for the retiring Paul Dunbar.

He said he plans to give his assistants a lot responsibility.

“We want to be able to pool our knowledge and teach kids the way they ought to be taught,’’ Fettke said. “I want to teach them to have the type of character God wants you to have. If you do those things, winning takes care of itself.’’

Fettke is a graduate of Tabor College. He played semipro football in Wichita. He joined the police force there after graduation.

“I’ve always wanted to be a coach and a cop,’’ Fettke said. “I decided (in 1997) that it was time for me to be a coach. I had been on the force for 14 or 15 years. I wanted to get back to Fairview. It was a good time. I got a chance to do some good things there.’’

The instincts he learned as a detective have served him well.

“I think I’m pretty good at talking with people,’’ he said.