New Austin Cedar Park football coach Michael Quintero is counting on a seamless transition.
“The tradition here has been built for a while now,” Quintero told KXAN. “That’s one of the things coming into the community, I knew what I was getting into and what I was gonna get when I got here.”
Quintero replaces Carl Asbeck as head man after the Timberwolves played in their fourth state championship game of the past decade last season. Before taking over as head coach at Red Oak High, he also previously served as defensive coordinator for Cedar Park for eight seasons, including for their first state championship winning team in 2012.
One by one, Timberwolves players are embracing his return.
“Definitely at first, everyone was nervous before we knew who the new guy was that there was gonna be a ton of change and stuff,” senior linebacker Jake McAnally told KXAN. “But with coach Q here, he just brought back everything. Not much changed at all. It’s all pretty much similar and everyone’s used to it. We’re all ready to go.”
The Timberwolves also come into the new season with the added motivation of wanting to erase last year’s 59-14 loss to Denton in the state championship game.
“We’re very motivated,” senior quarterback Josh Pell said. “We remember last year, we remember the feeling we have in our stomachs still from losing that game, so we’re just trying to make it back there. We’re embracing all our new coaches and what they have to bring and what they have to teach. We’re just really embracing the process right now and just ready to get the season started with our new coaches.”
Abseck is set to coach Barber Hill this season.