The Grand Blanc Bobcats are coming off of arguably the best season in Program History. 12 Wins, a SVL Championship and just one win away from Ford Field. A season later, the Bobcats will start off 2022 with a new Head Coach and the task of replacing 10 All-Conference Selections due to graduation. Players that moved on to the likes of Michigan St, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan amongst others. Head Coach Clint Alexander made his mark on the program with 5 straight trips to the post-season and the banner season of 2021.
Exit Coach Alexander, as he rides off into the sunset and back to Virginia in a region he had coached before coming back to Michigan. Enter New Head Coach Kaleb Forr. Coach Forr is ‘Davison Made’ and Cardinal Strong, having made his mark at rival Davison in high school, before moving to SVSU and becoming a 3 Year Starter on the Offensive Line. After graduating from SVSU, Forr held coaching jobs at Holland Christian, Southwest Florida Christian Academy, Kearsley and most recently, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School (AL). Coach Forr was Head Coach at Kearsley, where he led the Hornets back to the postseason (2019 &2020) for their first time in 21 years.
In our 2nd Feature of the SVL Champions of Fall ’21, I caught up with New Bobcat Head Coach Kaleb Forr to talk a little bit about his roots, his journey and the motivation and challenges he expects to face in 2022.
Being a Davison grad will add a new twist to one of the rivalries that has been brewing towards the intense level over the last few years and goes back to one that saw some great games in the old Big Nine. You already experienced that to some extent with Kearsley being a former Big 9 Foe. You’ve been around the block with playing stops at SVSU, then the coaching stops before GB but what does being a Davison grad feel like as you take full charge of the Bobcats?
I was blessed to be a part of a great high school football program in Davison at the time. Jeff Putnam was my head coach, offensive line coach, and huge mentor to me as a young man. My teammates were my best friends and some are still to this day. Fortunately I am able to be coaching with a few of them here at Grand Blanc! The culture that was established by the players and coaches was certainly one of family and pride. We all grew up playing together from the same small town and we created championships by growing together from top to bottom. It was and still is a big rivalry and that is what makes this game so great. These small town environments that have significant history come together and compete to represent their community. It’s what makes high school football so special and I’m blessed to now be a BOBCAT!
Kearsley hadn’t had a winning season since 2003 and hadn’t made the post-season since 1998. What do you think was the difference in turning that program around?
Establishing and maintaining a FAMILY culture at Kearsley was important to our success. We had fantastic student-athletes in our program. Not only talented but committed to growing together and buying into what it takes to be a champion. The families and alumni in that community are amazing. They wanted to have a program that they could be proud of and they helped out in tremendous ways. Those are some special teams that will go down in Kearsley history as some of the best ever! It was a true blessing to be the head coach of those young men.
What did the Jobs in Florida & Alabama help add to your coaching skillset and what you can bring with you in your next challenge at Grand Blanc?
I started my career as a teacher and coach at SFCA in Fort Myers, Florida. Most recently, I was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Montgomery, Alabama. Being involved in a top tier southern high school football program opened my eyes to the type of commitment communities should have in high school football programs. The success of our football team fed every part of our school’s success! I was blessed to be surrounded by great coaches and student-athletes and was able to learn from some of the best.
You’re coming into a program that has had 6 straight postseason trips, the defending league champs and coming off of arguably the most successful season in program history but you have to replace 10 All-Conference players. How are the kids responding to having to reload and what players do you see stepping up to fill those spots in 2022?
Last year’s team was unbelievably talented. They had lots of depth and a big senior class. However, many of the returning players would tell you that GB could have had 20 All-Conference players selected last year. We have some big shoes to fill no doubt, but we also have key players returning that know how to perform and win in big games. We’ve seen many of our guys step up throughout the summer and into the pre-season and they are ready to continue the success of GB Football.
The Bobcats had tremendous balance on offense last year between the run & pass, along with a defense that was fast and deep. What do you see as being the strengths this year to help Grand Blanc’s SVL Red Title defense?
I believe that the successes that the team displayed last year will be similar to why we will be successful this season. We will have balance on offense and the ability to make big plays through the air and on the ground. Our defense is extremely fast and plays with an intense pursuit of the football. The key is every player doing their own job. Not doing too much but focusing on the daily goals of getting better.
And so, the Bobcats will hit the Gridiron Thursday afternoon at 4PM, against Grandville at Atwood Stadium and will do it without some of the key names like Elijah Jackson-Anderson, the two-way standout who will be suiting up for EMU on Saturdays this Fall but enter a deep group of Seniors. Owen Szczembara was the backup last year at QB but because of the success of the team, Szczembara was able to see quality time throughout the season. He will have 2 Talented Receivers to depend on, including returning All-Conference WR Tae Boyd, along with Justin Perry. The Defense will have a lot of fresh faces in the starting lineup, led in part by LB Owen Burnbow. A difficult schedule won’t allow for much breathing room but it will make this team grow up fast and under the leadership of Forr, a confidence that what has been built over the last few years, will continue marching towards success.