Aaron Sims knows the recent history of the Alpena High football program and he knows it’s going to be his job to turn the Wildcats into a winner.

But the Wildcats’ new football coach isn’t making any bold predictions as he settles into his new role. More than anything he expects his players to work hard and if they do that, the results should follow.

“We’re going to work hard. That’s the only plan I have right now. Xs and Os aside, you’ve got to work harder than everyone else and that’s how we operate,” Sims said. “I know in the past, there’s been struggles, but I think it’s really a thing where it’s a matter of a few extra things here and there and we can get right over that hump and get into some very successful ways.”

As Alpena’s new coach, it will be Sims job to bring consistency to a program that is on its fifth head coach in five seasons and has gone 10-35 over the last five years.

To do that, Sims plans to simplify the Wildcats’ schemes on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Wildcats will run the Wing T, an offense that can be altered in a variety of ways, but also requires discipline to run effectively.

“I don’t think I’ve been involved in any other offense. I look at it like as a coach, when you employ schemes, it’s gotta be something you can fix,” Sims said. “If you can’t fix it, you probably shouldn’t be running it.”

On defense, Sims said the Wildcats will be a read-and-react type of team; a scenario that again requires discipline if a team is to be successful.

To that end, Sims said the Wildcats will keep simple, focusing on certain sets of plays or types of plays and making sure they can run those to perfection on both sides of the ball. Sims knows such persistence can pay off big. In 2014 his Hesperia team went 1-8 and averaged just 18 points a game while surrendering more than 30 a game. After an offseason of hard work and conditioning, the Panthers improved in spades, posting a 9-1 record while scoring more than 45 points a game and allowing 16.1 points per game.

“Going into that second year, not only did we have a full offseason of strength and conditioning athletic development stuff going on, but also it’s like one of those things where (in the) first year, your heads spinning, (your) heads spinning and then it just clicks for kids,” Sims said.

Once practice begins, Sims is focused on improving day by day and won’t be afraid to put the Wildcats through the paces. But with tough practices will also come chances for team camaraderie. It’s through those two tenants-hard work and teamwork-that Sims hopes to build up the Wildcats into a successful program that will future football players will want to be a part of.

“I look at it like this, we’re just going to run a good program and that is something that will prove itself,” Sims said. “We’ll be in the hallways high-fiving and doing that sort of thing, but by running a good program and showing that you’re going to take care of guys, take care of the kids that will be a recruitment (tool) in itself.”

James Andersen can be reached via email at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5694. Follow James on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.