Wrestling coach of the year

By Ted Allen

Published: May 3, 2008

Jeff Capps, in his 10th season as Liberty Christian Academy’s head wrestling coach, led the Bulldogs to their best Virginia Independent Schools state tournament finish in 25 years this winter.

After going 32-2 in the regular season and winning the Virginia Independent Conference tournament for the fourth time since 2000, the Bulldogs carried a complete team of 14 wrestlers to Cape Henry Collegiate in Virginia Beach for the Feb. 15-16 state meet, where they finished fourth.

Not since 1983, when it was the state runner-up, had LCA placed higher.

“We were very proud of how well the guys did from top to bottom,” Capps said. “We had one in the finals, Ethan Hagner who placed first (at 215 pounds), and nine in the top eight.”

He pit the Bulldogs against tougher non-conference competition early on and it paid off in the postseason.

“We bulked our schedule up significantly this year to prepare the guys for the state level and prepare them for the conference as well,” Capps said, noting the Bulldogs sent nine wrestlers to the VIC finals and came away with five champions.

Capps, a 1989 graduate of LCA who replaced his former coach, Ray Jones, in 1995, is quick to give credit where it is due — to his wrestlers.

“Honestly it comes from their hard work in practice and their dedication to getting better,” he said. “We rely heavily on our wrestlers to work with the younger guys and teach them. The experienced guys worked well with the younger guys to bring them along. Some of them, not knowing anything, improved dramatically, and the older guys were able to sharpen and improve their skills as well.”

Capps’ brother, Jon, who took over the team from 2002 to 2004 while Jeff was starting out as athletic director, has served as his assistant since then.

“He still helps me tremendously and does a great job,” Jeff Capps said.

In a sport that glorifies the individual, Capps emphasizes “Team over me.”

“Everything we do focuses on the team,” he said. “That’s the top priority. It’s not on the individual. It is an individual sport when they take the mat (but) our approach, whatever we do, it’s ‘How does it affect the team?’”

Capps is an encourager more than an exhorter as a coach. He lets his assistants do most of the barking during practice.

“I will (yell) when I have to,” he said. “(But) my personality’s more the positive, encouraging (type), focusing on the positive and how we can get better.”

He tries to instill a winning mentality in his wrestlers and get them to build each other up.

“Everything is positive,” he said. “We work very hard to make sure that the comments that come out of the guys’ mouths is positive and encouraging. The negative needs to come from the coaches.”

With only two seniors on this year’s team, the foundation is in place for an even stronger showing next winter.

“We’re just trying to keep building and improving on the skills, working throughout the year,” Capps said. “I’ve got guys that are wrestling basically year-round now, going to tournaments and camps.”