A New Era Begins as Greg Herd Takes the Helm at Eastlake
Former Steilacoom and Eastern Washington Star Brings Experience and Passion to the Wolves.
SAMMAMISH, Wash. – Greg Herd found out that Eastlake’s football program needed a new head coach on Twitter (I can’t call it X).
The Steilacoom High School alum was immediately interested.
“I just knew this was a storied program with a lot of prestige, a lot of tradition,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s a Tier 1 job, a Top 10 job, in Washington.”
He “threw his name into the hat” and was announced as the Wolves’ head coach last week.
Once a standout at Eastern Washington University, Herd won an FCS national championship with the Eagles and spent time with the Seahawks (rookie camp) and the Chicago Bears (training camp). With an impressive resume, particularly at the college level, you might wonder why I opened with the fact that he’s a Steilacoom alum.
Well, it’s the one thing we have in common. About 10 years before Herd played for the Sentinels, I was Steilacoom’s quarterback for three seasons. While our similarities end there, it’s relevant because I remember Herd’s playing career and appreciate what it takes to earn the attention of college coaches at a 2A school down the street (literally) from a perennial power in the incredible program Dave Miller has built at Lakes.
“Anytime you’re at a small school, there are going to be naysayers,” he said. “I just had to go out and play my best game every week, showcase what I could do. I think that’s one of the things that college scouts and recruiters look for—potential. It’s not about how good you are right now as a 17-year-old. They look for the intangibles, who you can be when you’re 22, 23 years old.”
“I feel like I did a good job showcasing that.”
That Herd created his opportunities is a testament to the mindset he instills in his players. Now, he takes over at another school that shares a street with traditionally strong programs in Eastside Catholic and Skyline.
Herd’s first opportunity to meet with his players came last week.
“I came up Friday and we had a team meeting, so I got to meet some of the kids then, which was pretty cool,” he said. “There were about 65-70 kids out here in the morning, so it was a good chance to get in front of some faces and meet some people.”
As a player, Herd’s career was on a vertical trajectory—until it wasn’t. Throughout his high school and college career, he never missed a game. He was never injured, until he broke a pinkie and suffered a concussion his senior season at Eastern Washington.
Then, during the Seahawks’ rookie camp, he separated his shoulder. And while he was given an opportunity to participate in the Bears’ training camp the next season, his professional career never had the chance to get off the ground.
“I got to a point in my life where football wasn’t guaranteed, so I really appreciate the sport for what it is,” he said. “It made me very grateful—being able to be around players of that high caliber.”
He experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows as a player, and he brings that perspective to the Wolves’ program.
Herd’s coaching career was shaped at his alma mater, where he helped the Sentinels reach their first state championship game (I watched Steilacoom dismantle Lynden in the semifinals with a former teammate). That team featured receiver Emeka Egbuka, who will be the school’s first NFL draft pick next month.
“Obviously, I have a lot of love and passion for that place,” Herd said. “The guys who I coached with—some of them coached me, some of them played in high school when I was in middle school. There was a really deep connection I had with the coaching staff there.”
Working with a receiver who has been a standout at Ohio State is a great way to develop as a coach, and Herd is appreciative of that opportunity.
“I’m so excited for that kid,” he said. “He’s one of the best kids I’ve had the pleasure to be around, for sure one of the best athletes I’ve had the pleasure to be around. Just seeing what he’s been able to do in his time in high school, breaking records, and really putting Steilacoom on the map more than anyone else was able to do there.”
Herd joins the Wolves after a stint as the head coach at Auburn Riverside. As someone who spends a lot of Friday nights watching KingCo football, I’m looking forward to watching Herd build his program.
With his passion, experience, and ability to connect with players, Herd is ready to leave his mark at Eastlake. And from the way he talks about the opportunity, it’s clear he’s all in.
“I’m fired up to be here, fired up to be the next leader of this program,” he said.
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