Bears will be guided by second generation coach

LAUREL — With a successful coach as a father, it is no surprise that T.J. Shiers has found himself as a coach at Laurel-Concord/Coleridge.
However, Shiers is no longer just one of the many assistant coaches at L-C/C. The summer’s departure of Terry Beair created a vacancy in the L-C/C football program and Shiers was the man tapped by Athletic Director Scott Peterson to take on the mantle of head football coach.

Shiers’ father has been a junior high and high school coach for many years and provided T.J. with plenty of examples on how to be a successful coach.
Shiers’ father was a junior high math and P.E. teacher at Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools. However, he was also a very successful junior high basketball coach with a career win-record of nearly 80 percent.
Shiers’ father also worked at Wallace Public Schools. While there, he was an assistant football coach and helped coach their teams to five state championships. Shiers’ father is still coaching and was proud to hear his son was the new head coach at L-C/C.
“My dad was really happy for me,” said Shiers, “Both my mom and dad will be in Laurel for our first game on Sept. 2.”
Going into his inaugural season, Shiers has some fears, but overall is excited to get the football season underway.
“We have a great group of kids with a small senior class, who have been great role models for the younger guys,” he said
Getting used to a new coach and a new philosophy can be difficult for any athlete, however, Shiers felt the football team had been taking it pretty well. Two major ideals will dominate Shiers’ philosophy.
“Discipline and conditioning will be very important,” said Shiers, “We need to be disciplined and make sure all 11 guys are on the same page. Plus we have to be in great shape with only 27 guys on the team.”
Overall, Shiers is hoping the way the team plays this season will be the real tribute to how hard the team has worked in their early season practices.
“We want to put a great product on the field and play with class,” said Shiers, “We’ll let the game speak for itself.”
Shiers was born and raised in Grant. While in high school, he played football and basketball for four years, track for two years, and golf for two years.
After graduating in 1998, Shiers enrolled at Concordia University, and worked toward a law degree.  However, after three years in Seward, he decided he no longer wanted to be a lawyer.
Shiers then entered the work world for about five years. During this time, he enlisted in the National Guard. For the first 10 months of his enlistment, he was involved with the Guards full-time. He had basic training for the first three months and then did seven months of job training.
In 2007, Shiers enrolled in the Secondary Education Program at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. He graduated in 2009 with an endorsement in social studies and coaching. Getting his first job was fairly easy.
“I wanted to be in a smaller school to start my teaching career and Laurel felt the most comfortable.”
From the first day Shiers arrived in Laurel, he told Peterson he was interested in being a head coach. However, while Beair was still in Laurel, Shiers knew the football job would not be his.
But, Peterson did not forget about Shiers’ hope to be a head coach. When Beair resigned over the summer to take a position at Wayne High, Peterson asked and Shiers accepted.
The L-C/C season will begin Sept. 2 when the Bears host Lutheran High Northeast.