Western Illinois assistant coach Brandon Kreczmer played linebacker for the Leathernecks from 2006 to 2010. He was the head coach of Newman Central Catholic High School’s 2019 state championship team. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Dan Verdun
Seven years ago, Brandon Kreczmer and Jake Ackman were celebrating an Illinois high school state championship together. Now, they both play roles on the Western Illinois coaching staff.
In his first year as Sterling’s Newman Central Catholic head coach, Kreczmer guided the Comets to the 2019 Class 2A state title. Ackman was his starting quarterback and cornerback.
“Obviously, I was very fortunate to win a state title in Illinois,” Kreczmer told Prairie State Pigskin. “That’s kind of what it’s all about, that journey.”
Kreczmer, a former Chicago St. Patrick High School standout who became an all-conference linebacker at WIU, took over the Newman Central Catholic reins from longtime head coach Mike Papoccia.
Ackman, now an offensive quality control coach at Western, was the next in line for a family that spanned Newman Central Catholic football for three generations and included his older brother.
Newman’s team, known as “The Blue Machine,” won IHSA state titles five times and placed second twice heading into the 2019 season.
Given the tradition and past success of the program, both Kreczmer and Ackman felt some pressure to win.
“We weren’t really favored to win it that year,” Kreczmer said. “People thought that program was going to fall apart, and we were able to keep it together.”
Ackman added, “It was an underdog story. We had a hall of fame coach who had just retired prior to Coach Kreczmer taking over as head coach. It was a little uneasy. We had a rough first few games. People, I won’t say doubted us, but certainly had some concerns — and they were valid.”
Path to a title
Kreczmer had been at Newman since 2013, serving as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach. Once he was named head coach, he continued to use many of the Comet traditions and lessons he had learned from Papoccia.
“One of the traditions we had was that we would meet as a team and every player had a link of a chain. If you were all in, you would put your link on and we would form a full chain,” he said.
Both Kreczmer and Ackman said the Comet players bought into the team concept, which in turn led to winning.
“We had a lot of heart on that team. When you’re a small school in Illinois and you have that and have guys who buy in, you can do some crazy things,” Ackman said.
Newman entered the 2019 IHSA playoffs with an 8-1 record, but Kreczmer said the team was just beginning to hit its stride.
“When it comes to playoff football, I don’t think it matters what level – high school, FCS or FBS or NFL – that’s a special time,” he said. “We used to say you’re on that magic carpet ride and you don’t want it to end. It definitely is a fun time.”
Newman Central Catholic defeated downstate Nashville, 35-14, in the 2A state championship.
“It was such a fast experience,” Ackman said. “Every other game felt like it took six hours, but when we were out there (in the state championship game), everything was so fast. It was really cold. A lot of the game itself is so difficult to remember and I like to pride myself on having a good memory. I do remember the big-time plays, the touchdown throws and an interception return for a touchdown by our outside linebacker. Those definitely come to mind.”
But one thing stands out most in his mind on that November day at DeKalb’s Huskie Stadium.
“The big thing for me was the locker room afterwards, the state of shock and disbelief because while we were all bought in, no one really prepares you for feeling like that,” Ackman said. “Coach Kreczmer came in and gave us a great postgame speech and everyone got to celebrate.”
Reunited in Macomb
Kreczmer posted a 23-6 record in his time as Comets’ head coach. He joined the Western Illinois staff in 2022 and served as interim head coach until Joe Davis was hired to lead the Leathernecks.
Ackman, who went on to play at NAIA St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, began as a Western volunteer assistant last spring.
“I made the decision that I wanted to coach,” Ackman said. “Coach Kreczmer was one of my references. He called me and said, ‘We have an opportunity as a quality control coach here. Let me know if you’re interested. You’ll have to go through the process but if you’re interested, let me know.’”
Ackman spent time on the defensive side of the ball in the spring before moving over to offense in the summer.
“It’s been so cool to see the difference in how everything operates between an NAIA school and a Division I school,” Ackman said. “It’s been such a gifted opportunity to learn under Coach Davis and his staff. The intricacies of Coach Davis’ offense are incredible. The big thing he’s instilled in me is the attention to detail. It has to be elite to be efficient at this level.”
For both men, lessons learned during their time at the prep level will continue to endure.
“Coach Papoccia mentored me and helped shape me into the coach I am,” Kreczmer said. “I still use a lot of things that he taught, not necessarily Xs and Os, but the off-the-field things like how to build relationships with players. Those things have stuck with me.”
“The tradition was rooted at Newman,” Ackman said. “It’s a good facet of football to keep in mind at a school like Western where we predicate ourselves on tradition on those who came before us and playing for them.”
This week’s opponent
Western Illinois (3-7 overall, 2-4 OVC-Big South) hosts Southeast Missouri (3-7, 2-2) Saturday at Hanson Field.
Coming off last fall’s FCS playoff berth, Southeast Missouri entered this season as one of the preseason favorites in the OVC-Big South.
While the Redhawks’ season hasn’t gone the way head coach Tom Matukewicz would like, SEMO still presents WIU with a stiff challenge.
Two of the SEMO’s losses came against nationally ranked FCS teams – No. 1 North Dakota State and then-No. 11 Southern Illinois. The Skyhawks also lost at FBS Arkansas State.
Junior Jax Leatherwood has returned at quarterback following an injury earlier this fall. He has completed nearly 63% of his passes and thrown for 12 touchdowns while only being intercepted twice.
Senior running back Brandon Epton Jr. tops the Redhawks with 414 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Three different receivers have at least four TD catches. Cam Pedro leads SEMO with 52 receptions for 707 yards.
SEMO has recorded 49 passes defended (41 PBUs, 8 INTs). Sophomore safety Landon Sylvie leads SEMO with 78 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception.
Kickoff: 1 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: Q981fm.com
Key matchup to watch
WIU defense vs. SEMO offense
While Western has played much better in recent weeks, the Leathernecks still rank last among the OVC-Big South’s defenses.
Meanwhile, SEMO averages 24.3 points per game, third-best in the league. The Redhawks feature the OVC-Big South’s top-rated passing offense, averaging 280.6 yards per game.
What’s at stake
Western seeks a three-game winning streak, its first since 2018.
Quick hits
The Leathernecks will host a Missouri school for the second straight week. WIU rallied to defeat Lindenwood, located in suburban St. Louis, last Saturday at Hanson Field. … Western running back Markell Holman was named OVC-Big South Offensive Player of the Week after his 172-yard rushing performance in the Leathernecks’ 24-21 win against Lindenwood. … WIU defensive back Don Paul Keith shared Co-Freshman of the Week honors with Lindenwood receiver Rico Bond. Keith recovered a muffed punt in the game’s waning moments, setting up the winning touchdown. Keith also had three solo tackles and two pass breakups in the victory.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
Find us on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Blue Sky: PSPigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment