Continuity is Sonnichsen’s transition word

YAKIMA, Wash. — For someone entrusted with the keys to the castle, Benji Sonnichsen has an undeniable calm and confidence about him. Which, in this case, are extremely good things to have. Any new coach taking over a high school football program faces higher-than-normal pressures, especially in a one-school town. But taking over at Prosser, an eight-time visitor to the state championship finals, is a different kind of animal altogether.

But as he gathered together the breadth of his new domain for a meeting this week — 117 kids and a staff ready for spring drills in June — the 30-year-old Sonnichsen felt inspired and energized by those around him. “I just couldn’t be more excited,” he said. “Some people have asked, ‘Why the heck do you want to do this?’ Well I feel this is my calling and I’m ready. And let’s face it, with this amazing staff it’s not like we’re building from scratch.”

Not when a part of that highly experienced staff is the architect of 22 league titles in 23 years, former head coach and newly appointed freshman coach Tom Moore. So, naturally, the question on most minds for this unique situation is front and center: How, exactly, will it work? How can a young coach create his own identity and effectively lead with his historically successful predecessor so close?

For Sonnichsen, who played and coached under Moore, it is hardly even an issue. “The first thing is, Coach Moore has been a great mentor in my life on and off the field,” he said. “We’ve developed a great relationship. There will be a little separation as he works with the freshmen, but we’ll share ideas and work together. I think it’s a great situation.”

Sonnichsen has blended philosophies and ideas from two great football minds — Moore and Frosty Westering, his college coach while at Pacific Lutheran University. “Coach Moore is so big on preparing to win and that’s an important tradition to carry on,” he said. “Frosty packaged building character while driving the program. If I have a mission statement it would be enhancing those things — building champions while pursuing championships.”

As he did during three seasons as head coach at Mount Vernon between 2005 and ’07, Sonnichsen will call plays and serve specifically as offensive coordinator. He returned to Prosser last year, expecting that the head job would soon come open when Moore’s youngest son, Kirby, was done playing. “When I took the Mount Vernon job the thought in mind was to get experience and put myself in position to one day come back,” he said. “This is where I grew up, and it’s where I want to be. It’s a big challenge, sure, but the continuity of our staff makes it so much easier. We all believe very strongly in what Coach Moore has done here and we want to keep riding that horse.”