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New chapter in Depee’s career includes coaching his son

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This season is unlike any other in Ozark coach Chad Depee’s coaching career, as his son, Gage, has cracked the Tigers’ lineup.

Gage is seeing time at linebacker as a sophomore. He’s also a backup quarterback.

The player-coach relationship is new to the Depees.

“I hadn’t coached my son or my daughter (Hattie) in any youth deals while they were growing up,” Chad said. “I just wanted to be a parent and watch them and enjoy it.”

He said he’s looking forward to Gage developing as a player and growing as a young man.

“He’s a quiet kid who loves to compete and he’s been looking forward to this opportunity to play ball,” Chad said. “It’s always hard to be a coach’s kid. It’s uncomfortable to be in that mix. What he does he’s earned.

“I want the village to raise him, with all the coaches and team helping him grow up as a man and for him to be a great teammate,” he added.

Chad expects the next three seasons to be quite the balancing act for himself between a coach and father. He’s most mindful for Gage to gain his own identity.

“I love being around my son and cherish this experience, but I want this to be his experience,” Chad said. “I’m trying to balance the difference between being his Dad and his coach. I’m going to support him as a parent and push him as a coach. Most importantly, I want this to be his experience.

“I’ve look forward to this chapter, being around him on a daily basis that I haven’t had in the past few years,” he added. “I want to enjoy the ride.”


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