Skip to content

View from balcony leads to OC spot

Football: Long-time St. Mary's head coach now on HTA sidelines as an assistant
McConkey2
Holy Trinity Academy Knight offensive co-ordinator Bill McConkey in deep thought at a football practice. McConkey joined the squad midway through the 2018 season after several years as head coach of the St. Mary’s Saints. (photo submitted)

You can gain a lot just by looking outside your window and taking in the world.

For Holy Trinity Academy Knight offensive co-ordinator Bill McConkey he gained another high school provincial football championship ring after the team’s 35-3 victory over the Austin O’Brien Crusaders to win the Tier II provincial high school championship on Nov. 22 in Raymond.

“I bought a condo in Okotoks about five years ago and I used to tease them (the HTA coaches) I could see what they were doing in practices from my balcony,” McConkey said. ”It was fun to joke about.”

McConkey is the former head coach of the St. Mary’s Saints where he won his first Tier II provincial championship in 2005.

He was talked down from the balcony on to Knights field by one of his former Saint players, Kevin Crawford, the HTA offensive line coach

“When Kevin found out I was retired (from coaching) he started grinding me that I should help coach at HTA,” McConkey said. “He called me last year and I came in about the middle of September. I was a kind of a consultant, making gentle suggestions.”

After the Knights came up just short in last year’s Tier II title game losing to Lloydminster, McConkey was asked to return in 2019 as the full-time OC.

It was like giving Mario Andretti the keys to a Ferrari.

McConkey’s wide open offence along with the Knights’ talent made for a high-octane combination.

“The kids that we had on offence we’re studs,” McConkey said. “Our quarterback Ben (Leggett) was like a sponge, he just absorbed everything you would tell him. To have the three Guteks on offence (Noah, Jack and Luke) well… the whole offence, you couldn’t ask for a better group of kids.”

McConkey is one who knows how to get the most out of an offence.

He opened up what has historically been a somewhat conservative Knights’ offence.

“That’s what I do,” McConkey said with a chuckle. “I’m a believer in letting the kids play and have fun. You can tell in practice the kids are excited with what we do. We base our offence on what we have and what we have to work with it.

“We’re always adding and tweaking it. You have to be one step ahead of the (opposition’s) defence.

‘We say once they stop this, we have to do that.’

“And our kids bought into it.”

The big adjustment in the title game was Leggett using his legs as well as his arm. He ran for 88 yards and had a pair of TDs in the final game.

At this stage in his life McConkey wanted to focus on X’s and O’s.

“At this point I am not interested in the administration stuff, registration, equipment,” McConkey said. "I just want to coach. It was the perfect fit. I could go out on the field, do the video with kids and not have to worry about whether the kids are going to class.

“That’s (head coach) Matt (Hassett) and Kevin’s job and they do a great job.”

He said the Knights’ have gone beyond building a good football team to building a strong football program. He said the parents organizing pre-game meals on Thursday nights is a prime example.

“And the kids are outstanding, so respectful of their coaches,” McConkey said. “I can’t say enough good things about the school and the coaches. We meet on Sunday nights to go over our plan for the week.

“It’s a small-town mentality…It’s fun to be there and I can’t say enough to how they accepted me.”

He was glad to see Hassett and the other coaches winning a title.

“I felt good for Matt he has worked so hard,” McConkey said. “And all the coaches who have been there for so long.”

As for next year, he’s leaving the door open.

“I am going to sit down with Matt and Kevin and talk about my contract,” he said with a laugh.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks