Humboldt football will be welcoming the addition of two new coaches — both sons of legendary Kansas high school football coaches.
Nate Dreiling will be the new defensive coordinator, while Zach Rampy will be taking over as the offensive coordinator. Randy Dreiling, Nate’s dad, is the current coach of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, but is known more for leading Hutchinson High School to seven state titles in a 17-year span as head coach. Steve Rampy, Pittsburg State’s current offensive coordinator and Zach’s father, led Blue Valley High School to four state championships.
Both were hired to work in the classroom as well. Rampy will be an elementary school teacher and Dreiling will be hired as a student teacher.
“First of all, I’m excited to land them as a teacher and student teacher,” head football coach and Superintendent of Schools K.B. Criss said. “I’m ecstatic that we bring two quality individuals into our school district.”
Criss said they both will be great for the school district.
“In the classroom, people are going to see how much they care about kids,” Criss said. “They’re going to be just a great fit in the classroom because they will do what’s best for kids.”
As coaches, they both bring experience as players to the table.
Nate Dreiling was a recent four time all-American at Pittsburg State, setting the MIAA record for most career tackles. Dreiling played as linebacker, and had invites to both Green Bay and Kansas City, but wasn’t offered a contract.
Zach Rampy played quarterback for two seasons at Emporia State. Multiple concussions forced him to quit, which is when he picked up coaching. He served as an assistant coach at ESU, moved to Emporia High School and most recently worked with the Pittsburg State defense as a graduate assistant.
“On the field, it looks like they’ve been doing it for 20 years,” Criss said. “From the first time that they stepped in a meeting, they took the pen to the marker board and it looked like they’ve been doing it 20 years. On the field, probably the biggest thing they bring is instant credibility with the kids. They’ve both played at the college and high school level.”
Both Dreiling and Rampy have been working with the team this offseason in the weight room. Currently, the team and coaches are at a week long football camp. Humboldt has finished 8-3 each of the past two seasons under Criss, advancing to the second round of the Class 3A Football Tournament.
