Eric Reis, head coach at Manteca High School in his 22nd year of coaching now takes on the role of assistant coach for the Manteca High School feeder team, the Manteca Jr. Buffs.

With records of 2-1 (MHS Varsity) and 4-0 (Jr. Buffs Varsity) the season for both teams looks promising. Although when asked who his ‘key-players’ were he proceeded to tell me that a good team has no key players; football is a team sport that shouldn’t have one star player.

He should know, from his 10 years of playing as both a defensive and offensive lineman.

After an injury that left him unable to play, he was invited by his own coaches to come and assist them, almost a dream come true. Reis told me that even in high school he knew coaching was what he wanted to do in his life.

When I asked him why he chose this year to become involved with the Manteca Jr. Buffs, he gave me three reasons. 

“It is important to give the incoming players a solid foundation of how to play and learn the importance of the game, the chance to influence the lives of the local boys, and the opportunity to spend more time with his son Kyle while playing the game they both love.

After a long 22 years of coaching, I asked what has kept his heart in the game for so long. He replied with, “The love of the game, the chance to make a difference, and after so long,  it has become a habit.”