Steve Spinks, who spent nine years immersed in the Johnson County football scene as an assistant coach, is getting the chance to do so as the man in charge.
Spinks was officially approved to become Indian Creek’s new coach at a school board meeting Monday evening. He succeeds Brett Cooper, who compiled a 21-12 record in three seasons before leaving in December to take the job at Perry Meridian.
Cascade’s head coach the past four seasons, Spinks previously served as a member of Whiteland’s football staff from 2007 to 2015, helping the Warriors to five Mid-State Conference championships and a pair of sectional titles.
Spinks, 37, looks forward to putting his imprint on an Indian Creek program that has assembled 19 consecutive winning seasons. He begins work as the high school’s strength and conditioning coach on April 6 with the hope that his infectious personality and drive wins over those in his new workplace.
Enthusiasm, after all, isn’t something Spinks lacks.
“A coach isn’t a very good coach if he doesn’t know his strengths and weaknesses. I feel my greatest strength is building relationships with all athletes,” said Spinks, 37, a 2000 Ben Davis graduate who played offensive and defensive tackle for legendary coach Dick Dullaghan. “I’m going to love them and I’m going to show them I love them.
“I’m just so excited. There is tradition at Indian Creek and a community that wants to have a great football team. What’s not to like?”
Spinks took over at Cascade prior to the 2016 season, leading the Cadets to three victories in each of his first two years. The Cadets gradually improved, posting 5-6 marks each of the past two seasons.
Historically, Cascade has struggled on the gridiron with only one sectional title in school history and one winning record the past 13 seasons. Ironically, it’s Spinks’ former mentor, Whiteland coach Darrin Fisher, who led the Cadets to their lone regional appearance in 1992.
Spinks remains close to Fisher and credits him for much of his career ascent.
“Working under someone who knows how he wants things done, I think it meant everything to me,” Spinks said. “It’s been invaluable for me by showing me how to draw every ounce of everything that kid’s got.”
Spinks was 25 when he became Whiteland’s assistant freshman football coach. During his time on Fisher’s coaching staff, his responsibilities ranged from mentoring Warriors’ defensive linemen to those in the defensive secondary to being special teams coordinator.
Fisher, set to enter his 16th season at Whiteland, is confident Spinks will succeed at Indian Creek.
“At the time he took the Cascade job, they won one game the year before and the numbers were way down,” Fisher said. “In the short time Steve was there, football is now important to the school and in the community, and that’s because of the guy in charge.
“Steve is good for kids. The other thing is he coaches the game with the kind of precision that he’s going to be successful wherever he is, and I think Indian Creek is a great fit. Steve can capture the hearts and minds of the kids who play for him, and that spreads to other people.”
