Published: November 25, 2009 05:07 am      

O'Shea faces mentor in state title game

Fountain Central's Smith hired Central Catholic coach out of college

VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — The idea that Lafayette Central Catholic coach Kevin O’Shea has his team playing for the Class A state championship this Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium isn’t really surprising to those familiar with him or his family.

O’Shea comes from a family that lives and breathes football, and his history as a player and coach is proof enough that a state championship appearance would come sooner or later.

The irony in Friday’s matchup against the Fountain Central Mustangs is that he will be going up against the very coach that gave him his first opportunity.

Fresh out of college, O’Shea was in search of both a coaching and teaching position, and current Fountain Central offensive coordinator Brad Smith needed a quarterbacks coach.

“He was just leaving Franklin College where he had led the nation in passing,” said Smith, who was head coach of the Crown Point Bulldogs at the time.

“It was one of those things where, (O’Shea’s father and Merriville head coach) Frank had mentioned to me that Kevin was available and I went and talked to him and brought him in. It was a nice five-year run there where we won a lot of games.”

After a brief stint with Crown Point and head coaching positions with Delta and McCutcheon, everything came full circle when O’Shea joined his father and Smith on Attica’s coaching staff.

Though he only stayed for one year (2007) before taking over at Central Catholic, Smith knew what the Red Ramblers were getting.

“I wasn’t involved in the hiring process, per se,” Smith said. “I was a retired coach, but he knew the job was available, he was looking for a place to coach, and his dad had been my assistant at Attica for a few years. It was kind of all connected.

“He took that job for one year and once that job at Central Catholic opened, they kind of went after him and got him. He’s a good coach and they made the right decision.”

But now Smith and the Mustangs will have to contend with O’Shea’s signature offensive attack led by the state’s fifth-leading passer, Chris Mills.

Smith said that regardless of the program, O’Shea has made a name for himself as an offensive guru.

“Everywhere he’s been, he’s established himself,” Smith said. “He just sells it so well and teaches it so well that you just get better. They were a spread team before he got that job. Kevin’s spread is a little different, but it’s his style. That’s Kevin O’Shea’s handwriting all over that team right now. It’s his signature and that’s what he does.”

Perhaps Smith could take credit for helping O’Shea reach this point in his career, and after giving him his first coaching gig, they will forever be linked in the football world.

And as the coaching fraternity goes, Smith without question would like to see his former assistant coach continue to succeed.

But as a member of the opposition in this week’s state title game, Smith wouldn’t blame O’Shea if he chose to take a night off, more specifically this Friday.

With only one game remaining in the 2009 season, Smith will wish O’Shea all the best in the future.

“Kevin is a bright, bright young man,” Smith said. “He’s a hard worker and has great knowledge of offense. If you were going to find somebody to coach your quarterbacks, you go to Kevin O’Shea. That’s what I’d do. I’m happy for him and wish him all the luck in the world — next year.”

The Mustangs and Knights will battle for the Class A state championship on Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. (Eastern). The game can be heard locally on WKZS-FM 103.1.