By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Lafayette football program has had four winning seasons between 2016-2022. They also went through four different head coaches in that time.
Lafayette went through a change in leadership again this past offseason, when Scott Finley resigned the heading coaching job after just one year with the Irish.
That opened the door for Nate Daugherty to take over. An NCAA outdoor championship qualifier in discus at Missouri Western, Daugherty spent the 2022 season with Lafayette as the special teams coordinator.
Becoming a head coach is a lifelong dream fulfilled.
"It's a big step," Daugherty said. "I had to learn really, really fast, but it's been really nice. Learning fast and these kids have bought in to what I want and I'm bought into them. So, it's been a really good relationship with the team and I have a lot good coaches around me."
"They're helping me to push along, but also following along with all of the same standards I want for the kids."
It was a tough go for Lafayette last year, finishing the 2022 season at 0-10 overall. The Irish were outscored by an average margin of 50-8.
It was a young team that battled injuries and a tough schedule. Lafayette played five games last season against opponents that had eight or more wins.
With a clean slate and a fresh start, the Irish are simply focused on day-to-day improvement in 2023.
"We're trying to focus on winning every day and being 1-0 every day," senior quarterback Jackson Compton said. "Not really worrying about getting too far into the season, but worrying about every day."
Compton, along with every other senior on the Lafayette roster, are being led by their fourth different head coach in the last four years.
"It's hard to adjust to their different play styles," said senior corner and receiver Drake Losson. "There's always new plays, new formations and stuff like that. So, it's hard to adjust to."
While there's been a lot of change in recent years, Losson knows this senior class is hungry to go out on a high note. He's also confident the entire team is capable of bigger and better things this year.
"I think they have a big drive to go far," Losson noted. "Sometimes, you don't get that with players, and I think this group has that in them."
Lafayette will partake in the city jamboree on August 18 at Spratt Stadium along with Benton, Central and Savannah.
The Irish then officially open the season at KC Center on August 25.
Whatever happens this season, Daugherty wanted to convey a clear message to the team upon his hiring - he's here to stay.
"Just letting them know that I'm here for the long run," Daugherty said. "They know I care about them, because I was here last year. I have the relationships built with them. So, it was really nice. The seniors, this year, have jumped into being leaders really, really fast. They instantly, right off the bat, were bought in."
"I'm excited to start my senior year," Compton said. "I'm excited to work with the new coaching staff and the new team."
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