In the often-nomadic profession of high school coaching, Mike Wheeler was looking for a job in the early 1990s where he and wife Charlotte could establish roots and raise their two young daughters.
Wheeler, then 33, made the fateful decision to accept the football head coaching job at
Dallas Christian (Mesquite, Texas).
Now, 21 years later, he is still prowling the sideline at Dallas Christian and there is absolutely no regret.
Mike Wheeler, Dallas Christian
Courtesy photo
Daughters Sarah (age 27) and Merideth (22) didn't have to change schools growing up. Both are out on their own now.
Wheeler has enjoyed great success coaching Dallas Christian to a 198-56 record and four Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state titles.
The Chargers completed a 10-0 regular season and nailed down the TAPPS Division II District 2 title with a 45-16 win over Trinity Christian (Cedar Hill) on Friday and look like a strong contender for yet another state title.
In recognition for guiding his team to a perfect regular season, Wheeler was selected as the Dallas area coach of the week presented by Comerica Bank.
"I've been very fortunate to be able to stay in one place so long,'' Wheeler said. "I'd seen so many coaches come and go, putting their kids through changes, and we didn't want to do that. Other opportunities came along, but Dallas Christian is a great place.''
Wheeler said this year's team is special because of the large number of seniors -- 21 in all -- that have grown up together since elementary school. Heavy graduation from the 2008 team, the most recent of Wheeler's state championship teams, allowed several current seniors to get their feet wet at the varsity level four years ago.
"These seniors have known good times and bad and they've stayed together,'' Wheeler said.
Quarterback
Alex Craig (6-6, 205 pounds), a senior in his second season as fulltime starter, has thrown for 1,719 yards and 22 touchdowns. In the Chargers most recent win, Craig recorded 316 passing yards and four touchdowns.
"I look at Alex as the dark horse of his recruiting class,'' Wheeler said. "He's finally gotten to the point where his feet have caught up to his body. Alex has made a lot of progress.''
Running back
D'Andre Cannon has topped the 1,000-yard rushing barrier and scored 24 touchdowns.
Justis Nelson, a cornerback and receiver for Dallas Christian, has orally committed to Texas Tech. Nelson is one of six Chargers starting on both offense and defense.
"Resting players is always a concern when you have guys going both ways,'' Wheeler said. "I don't worry about rest as much at the skill positions, unless we are talking about a spot like tailback where there is a lot of contact. Rest is a bigger concern for linemen.''
Wheeler said he benefited from roles as an assistant under several excellent coaches during career stops in Oklahoma, his native Howe (Texas) and at Lakeview Centennial (Garland).
"I was on the staff of Bobby Watkins at Lakeview Centennial and from him I learned a coach has to be versatile," Wheeler said. "Once you get to the playoffs, you better be able to do more than one thing.''
Wheeler said he emphasizes defense and controlling the clock, but takes pride in adjusting the Chargers style of play to suit personnel.
In addition to the 2008 title, Dallas Christian won state under Wheeler in 1995, 1997 and 1998. His teams finished state runner-up five times.
The school demonstrated its appreciation to the coach and wife Charlotte (a teacher at Dallas Christian) earlier this year by naming the 3,000-seat stadium in their honor -- Wheeler Field.
And it is at Wheeler Field that Dallas Christian will open the TAPPS playoffs Friday night against Grace Prep (Arlington), a team the Chargers defeated 42-7 earlier this season.
"They've made a lot of changes since that first game,'' Wheeler said of his opponent. "You worry about mental focus in a situation like this. We need to go into it like a new game.''
At an age when some of his contemporaries are starting to think about retirement, Wheeler is not planning to step away anytime soon.
"I don't have a lot of hobbies,'' Wheeler said, "and I still have a passion for coaching.
"One of the first things I learned when I got into coaching and I've never forgot is that all this is not about me. It is about kids. You can't lose sight of that.''
