Matt Bauer was a relatively young man when he had all but given up on the idea of becoming a high school head football coach.
He was 31 and serving as an assistant for Mick Vecchio at Gov. Mifflin in 2008 when he was approached about applying for the vacant job at Exeter.
As a chemistry teacher and a former assistant there, he was willing to listen even though the Eagles had lost 21 consecutive games.
“I told Mick it would probably be my only opportunity to become a head coach,” Bauer recalled. “The first question he asked me was, ‘Do you think you can win there?’
“I said, ‘I don’t really know, but I probably would always be wondering if I don’t try.’ ”
Exeter hired Bauer before the 2009 season, a decision that changed the fortunes of the Eagles football program.
After a steady climb under Bauer’s leadership, Exeter has reached its greatest heights. Fresh off a stunning win over Mifflin for their first District 3 title, the Eagles will face District 7 champion Penn-Trafford in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals Friday night at 7 at Bald Eagle Area High School.
“It means everything,” Bauer said. “It’s the culmination of a lot of years of hard work.”
Building a program began with creating a new atmosphere, by holding himself, his coaches and his players accountable and by demanding commitment.
Christian Menet was a sophomore on Bauer’s first team at Exeter and later an assistant coach.
“From the first meeting, he said, ‘I’m going to love you guys,’ ” Menet recalled, “but I’m also going to be hard on you.’ He definitely was. For him to come in and reset the foundation and change everyone’s thoughts and opinions about Exeter football was hard. Things were pretty bad.
“He set the standard and held everybody to it, including himself. He really wanted us to embrace the culture and turn around the program. He was passionate about it. He was passionate about Exeter football.”
In Bauer’s first game, the Eagles beat Lower Merion 23-14 and snapped the losing streak behind 148 rushing yards by team captain Bobby Thomas. Then they lost nine straight and finished 1-9.
“People don’t realize or they forget that we were winning in six of those nine going into the fourth quarter,” Bauer said. “It just took the kids a little while to learn what it took to finish games. They had to learn how to win.”
After making incremental improvement and going 4-6 in 2010, Exeter broke through the following season. The Eagles went 7-4 and made their first appearance in the District 3 playoffs since 1997 and their second overall.
It’s when Bauer felt for the first time that the program was headed in the right direction.
“It took a strong senior class,” he said. “Those kids were with me from when they were in 10th grade. We went from kind of being the laughingstock of the school to being one of the sources of pride. It was definitely a long road. It didn’t happen overnight.”
Including that 2011 season, Exeter has had 11 consecutive winning records. It has qualified for the District 3 playoffs every year but 2020, when the field was limited because of the pandemic.
Bauer has established the Eagles as one of the best programs in Berks County and District 3.
“He’s always there for the kids,” Exeter athletic director Tom Legath said. “He’s so responsible. It’s his organization. It’s his communication. Everything is top notch. He’s prepared. He has a great supporting cast. He knows what he’s doing.
“It’s not like it’s rocket science with Matt. He just does the things you’re supposed to do and he does them very well.”
With Michal Menet anchoring the offensive and defensive lines, Exeter finally won the Berks Football League Section 1 title in 2015 and finished 11-1.
But from 2011-18, the Eagles made it past the first round of districts just twice (2013, 2015). It seemed like they couldn’t get over the hump.
“I did think for a couple years that we were plateauing,” Bauer said. “I always felt that as long as I could continue to move the program forward, it was worth it to continue.
“If we regressed or we would plateau, I would have felt I wasn’t reaching the kids and it was time to let someone else take over. Fortunately I’ve had tremendous kids.”
Two years ago, Exeter won two district playoff games before losing in the 5A final to Cedar Cliff. That experience only served to whet the appetite of the current seniors, who were sophomores on that team.
Bauer pays credit to team captains Sam Orzolek, Colin Payne, J.R. Strauss and Ty Yocum and the other seniors for pushing their teammates after disappointing losses to Central York, Hempfield and Gov. Mifflin.
“This is the best group of leaders I’ve had from top to bottom in the senior class,” Bauer said. “When I first started, I always wondered why we didn’t have strong leadership. I realized you have to teach your leaders how to lead. There aren’t a lot of born leaders.
“A lot of these seniors are very mature beyond their years. They’re very accountable. They’re very unselfish. They set great examples.”
So does the 44-year-old Bauer, who played football at Muhlenberg for John Yocum and at New Hampshire. He’s a no-nonsense type with a heart.
“He really makes sure that everyone’s doing their job and that we stay disciplined all the time,” Orzolek said. “He’s a motivator. If things aren’t up to our standard, he’ll hold us accountable. He makes sure we know what we need to do and that we get it done.
“But he also likes to have fun. He’s a good coach.”
Bauer learned football from his father, Roger, who coached at Muhlenberg for 16 seasons, including three seasons as head coach (1977-79). At 74, Roger Bauer spends Friday nights in the coaches box and offers his son support and criticism.
“He’s the one I turn to for advice, especially when times are tough and I have to make tough decisions,” Bauer said. “He’s always been there for me. He taught me very early that nothing is a substitute for hard work. If you want something, you have to show up every day and do the work.”
Bauer has a 93-51 record in his 13 seasons at Exeter. Two more wins would give the Eagles a state title, which was unfathomable when he took over.
“I’ve been around the hardest-working and most dedicated kids,” he said. “I’ve formed relationships with so many wonderful kids. I’m just very thankful.”
So are the Exeter Eagles.
Source: Berkshire mont
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