By Vince Teresi
Kennedy High School head football coach Randy Traeger has begun his 30th year in the interscholastic sports arena. Traeger said he equally enjoys both the “what” and “why” of coaching and is motivated by the building of character in his players.
Traeger is a graduate of Kennedy High School and Willamette University. He earned all-league football honors at Kennedy. He received honorable mention Little All-American in 1979, the “Offensive Lineman of the Year” recognition and the John Buhr Award at Willamette.
Traeger coached for 21 years at Kennedy along side Coach John Kuppenbender. JFK teams twice advanced to state championship playoffs. He also coached five years as defensive coordinator at Silverton High.
Traeger and his coaching staff brought the “Virtue Over Victory” project to the Kennedy High football program. The Virtue project is part of a national program called “Sports Leader.”
Traeger often reminds the players: “Your years as a Kennedy Trojan football player will be filled with many ups and downs. It is not how many times you fall that will determine your success. Your honesty, integrity and determination to fight on, will.”
