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Armada High School

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Armada High School

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3.0 years ago by Jim Evans Macomb Daily

New football coach joins the huddle in Armada

Great Expectations?

Don’t mistake Kyle Rowley for Charles Dickens.

Honestly, Rowley  did not know what to expect heading into his first meeting with the football players at Armada High School.

It was back in February and Rowley had just been named the new football coach at the school in northern Macomb County.

Rowley had spent the previous six years at Hazel Park High School. The Vikings joined the Macomb Area Conference for the 2019 season.

Prior to that, they had played in the Oakland Activities Association.

Rowley will now be in the Blue Water Area Conference.

“We had 70 kids at that first meeting,” said Rowley. “Now I don’t know if all 70 will come out for football, but right then we started laying the foundation. We’ll work hard in the classroom. We’ll work hard in the weight room. We will work hard in practice. We will  focus on the little things. Friday night is the easy part.

“But it was great to see all the kids at the meeting. Their parents, the whole community, everybody seems to be on board,” he continued. “I don’t care what it is, basketball or band; choir or football; this community loves everything their kids do in school. The community is all in and that is one of the things that made this job so attractive,” said Rowley.

How much did Rowley want the job in Armada? Enough to leave a full time teaching job at Hazel Park to become a substitute teacher in Armada. He is hoping there will be a permanent  opening in the fall, but there are no guarantees.

“That’s the way I am. When I want something I dive in head first. Eventually everything will work out job-wise,” said Rowley.

Football is a huge part of his life. He is the son of coaching legend Bud Rowley, who spent 42 years coaching in Oxford. His dad retired following the 2019 season. He amassed 264 victories and a state championship during his tenure..

Bud Rowley will be a member of his son’s coaching staff at Armada. He will handle both the offensive and defensive lines. He will also help with the offensive schemes.

Kyle Rowley played football for his dad. He went on to play at Michigan State and upon graduation, he returned home and coached with his dad for four seasons.

“Football has always been a family thing,” said Kyle Rowley. “I don’t feel any pressure because I am Bud Rowley’s son.”

Kyle Rowley’s teams at Hazel Park had some success. They were 4-5 the last two seasons, but in 2017 the Vikings were a playoff team.

Armada’s trips to the football playoffs have been few and far between.

“I am not sure why that is. I know there is some gosh darn talent in this town. There are some good football players, so I don’t know why there has not been more success. I know there has been outstanding community support.”

Great expectations? The dickens is, they will come soon enough. Give the new coach time.

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