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Edwards grateful for time with Knights, excited for opportunity at Ben Davis
Last Friday night served as a full circle type of moment for Aaron Edwards, although he said at the time, the irony of the situation hadn’t quite set in for him just yet.
Edwards was representing Northview, along with head coach Mark Raetz and Braxton Sampson, at the Murat Shrine North-South All-Star Classic. It was the final time Edwards would have Northview attached to his name as he had been hired onto Jason Simmons’ coaching staff at Ben Davis, the location of the All-Star Classic.
“It hasn’t really sunk in,” Edwards admitted. “I know I was representing Northview for the final time but being on this field for the first time on a Friday night, it really hasn’t sunk in yet.”
The decision to leave Northview after spending the last nine years on the sidelines in Brazil wasn’t an easy one, Edwards said. Raetz took a chance on a young college graduate and brought him onto his staff and placed him alongside his father, Dennis Raetz, as quasi co-defensive coordinators.
At the same time, after his wife, Alia Blackburn, left WTHI in Terre Haute to become an anchor at Fox 59 and then CBS4 in Indianapolis, commuting to Brazil every day for his teaching job as well as his coaching responsibilities began to take a toll on him, said Edwards.
He began searching for a special education job – just as he had at Northview – as well as an opportunity to continue his football coaching career. He found both at Ben Davis, which brought an end to his time with the Knights, something he will forever be grateful for regardless of where the game takes him along his coaching journey.
“I’m going to miss Northview a lot. I was 23 years old, and [Mark Raetz] gave me my first varsity job. Looking back on it, there were a lot of aches and pains that I gave him and his dad, but they kept their faith in me. I learned a lot from those two. As long as I keep climbing up in the coaching ranks, I’m on the Raetz tree first and foremost,” said Edwards.
“That community, I love a lot. My mom grew up there. I have a lot of family ties there. The administration, Dr. Fritz and then all the way down to Mr. Mauk and his administration are great. I’m going to miss my department at the school and everyone there. There’s just a lot of emotions, there really is. I’m stepping out of my comfort zone, though. I’ve been there for nine years, and it needed to happen. Commuting was tough, especially being away from my wife two or three days per week just so I had a decent enough amount of sleep to do a good job at work,” Edwards continued. “That community, past players, the students, they made me a better person. I’ll never forget that community.”
It's safe to say the coaches, community and past players won’t forget their time with Edwards either. Both Raetz and Sampson, who got to spend last Friday on the same sideline as Edwards for the final time, spoke glowingly about the defensive mind he became during his nine years spent with the Knights as well as the type of person and leader he is away from the field.
“It was great to be able to coach with him one more time,” said Raetz. “He and I have coached together for nine years. I hired him as a 23-year-old right out of college. Now, he’s 32 and married and moving on. He’s been a huge part of our program at Northview. We’ll definitely miss him, but he’s got a great opportunity here at Ben Davis. His family is here, and his wife is here. It was great to be with him for one more game.”
“It’s been amazing,” said Sampson of playing for Edwards during his four-year career at Northview. “He’s had such a big impact on me and my whole family. My sister loved him so much in the special needs class that he did. She absolutely adored him. So, not only to me, but my whole family, he’s meant so much. We’re definitely going to miss him.”
While the sadness of moving on from Northview was evident in the way Edwards spoke after the North-South Classic concluded, it was also very clear he’s excited about the opportunity he has before him at Ben Davis. Edwards knows it’s going to be different, and he’ll have to grow into his new role over time with the Giants, but he’s eager to make the Wabash Valley proud and has the work ethic to make that happen.
“I look at it as another challenge,” said Edwards of his opportunity at Ben Davis. “I’m starting a little lower and I’m now at a 6A program that’s the second biggest school in the state. I’m excited to learn, but I also have a chip on my shoulder. I want to make the Wabash Valley proud, make Terre Haute proud, make Brazil proud because there are good coaches that come from that area. I’m excited for the opportunity. It’s a big step coming from a small 4A school to 6A and a team that’s always in the [conversation] to win a state championship. I’m grateful for coach Jason Simmons for giving me the honor to be on his staff. Hopefully, I can keep making strides and keep getting my players better, keep getting myself better and keep getting my students better.”