West Chester East Football Retooling With New Coach

Dan Ellis has been in this situation before, being asked to rebuild a foundering program at that hasn’t won since 2006. Ellis, the state championship quarterback at Downingtown in 1996, turned the Springfield (Delco) program around, making it a winner.

The Vikings are hoping to benefit from Ellis, too.

“The good thing is the kids are extremely willing to work; they know it’s a long road to hoe and we’ve emphasized a good attitude throughout the summer and in preseason practices,” Ellis said. “We instill that good attitude, have everyone give 100-percent in every drill and every play, we’ll be a good football team. It’s certainly easier said than done. Any good team that plays, they all have a good attitude and give great effort. We have to change the culture."

The Vikings have gone 5-37 since 2007. West Chester East played a one-platoon system last year, and Ellis will be refitting many players with skills that have been dormant for a few years now.

“Going 5-38, that’s a negative culture and we need to change that from top to bottom,” Ellis said. “We’ve gone as far as changing that there is no hazing on the bus. We have to change how we view ourselves and how we fit in the community.”

Senior wide receiver Mike Brown will be a major weapon. Quarterback Jake Sheller is smart, and has a strong arm.

“Mike Brown has a lot of physical talent and he has to keep working on becoming the player both he and I expect him to be,” Ellis said. “Jake is very good, very solid. He’s a smart kid who can whip it a little bit. We have three really, really talented receivers. We have some pretty talented players on the offensive and defensive line. Some younger kids could get a chance to play. This is another challenge.”

Ahead is a loaded Ches-Mont League, with a Coatesville team that could be among the better teams in District 1 Class AAAA, along with powerful programs like Downingtown East and Downingtown West, and West Chester Henderson.

“We have more talent this year than what I had my first year at Springfield, but the Ches-Mont League is tougher than what the Central League was like,” Ellis said. “Henderson, Coatesville, and Downingtown West and Downingtown East all won [District 1] playoff games. Henderson beat Ridley, which was the No. 1 District seed. It’sa brutal league. But I expect us to be competitive. I expect us to fight, claw and scratch every game.”

West Chester East Fact Box

Coach: Dan Ellis (first season).

Last year: 2-9.

Key players: Jake Sheller (Sr. 6-foot, 170, QB/DB), Mike Brown Sr. 6-foot-3, 175, WR/DB), Tom Phelan (Sr. 6-foot-2, 270 OL/DL), Eddie Anderson (5-foot-11, 175, WR/DB), Pat Whalen (Sr. 5-foot-10, 175 WR/DB).

Games to watch: at Bayard Rustin 9/17, at Downingtown West 9/30, at Coatesville 10/14, at Downingtown East 10/28.

West Chester East Schedule

Sept. 2         at Spring-Ford 7:00 pm

Sept. 9         Kennett 7:00 pm

Sept. 17       at Bayard Rustin 7:00 pm

Sept. 23       West Chester Henderson 7:00 pm

Sept. 30       at Downingtown West 7:00 pm

Oct. 8 Avon Grove 7:30 pm

Oct. 14        at Coatesville 7:00 pm

Oct. 21        Bishop Shanahan 7:00 pm

Oct. 28        at Downingtown East 7:00 pm

Nov. 4         at Oxford Area 7:00 pm

Nov. 11       Sun Valley 7:00 pm