There have been some big changes at Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the past eight months. Seismic changes, almost.

Jim Womochil, saddled with a 22-game losing streak, quit as the football coach last January.

Larry Niemeyer, battling health issues, stepped aside as the girls basketball coach, then wasn't rehired as the softball coach.

Scott Kibby, a J-Hawk since his own days as a student-athlete at Jefferson, quit as the athletic director to take a similar job at Iowa City West.

Mike Kuba, wanting to spend more time with his daughters, resigned as the head baseball coach to become an assistant softball coach instead.

That's a lot of changes in less than one year at one school, and Chris Deam is the man in charge of putting all the new pieces together.

Deam was hired as the new athletic director in April and assumed duties in July, arriving from Osceola Clarke High School. He's new and so is a good chunk of the coaching staff, but he's not sure how much importance to place on new people getting a fresh start together.

"I don't know if it really matters," he said Friday before Jefferson opened the football season at Prairie. "The coaches that have been here awhile get a fresh start with me anyway.

"It's kind of exciting, and you know you have to work hard."

Deam does not claim to have any magic answers for fixing the football program or anything else, other than hard work, supporting coaches, encouraging students and trying to improve the culture.

"I'd like to put that stamp on it," he said. "I kind of pride myself on being active and trying to put a positive spin on things."

He hopes the J-Hawks compete for conference and state titles, but it's not the bottom line. "We're not looking at wins and losses," he said.

Rather, Deam said Jefferson is trying to offer a positive experience for all its students. The wins and losses will take care of themselves if people do their jobs.

Brian Webb arrived from Carroll Kuemper to become the new football coach. Jason Edwards, who was already working as a counselor at Jefferson, was hired as the new girls basketball coach after serving as an assistant at Cedar Rapids Washington.

Brian Erbe, who has worked at Jefferson for a long time, resigned as the softball coach at Xavier to coach the J-Hawks instead. Kuba, a long-time friend, will be one of his assistants.

The baseball job is open, but a Class 4A school that competes in the Mississippi Valley Conference won't have to go begging for a talented coach. "I think we'll get some top-notch candidates in," Deam remarked.

The Jefferson football team put up a good fight against Prairie before losing, 28-7, for its 23rd setback in a row. Deam would like to see football set a positive tone for the school year and likes what
he's seen so far.

Deam was a football coach and wrestling coach before becoming a full-time administrator, so he's been in the trenches himself and knows what coaches need to succeed. He said he and Webb "bounce ideas" off each other as they seek to turn the football program around.

Jefferson alumni raised several thoustand dollars for the football program with a golf outing this summer and Deam appreciates the community getting involved. "That's neat to see," he said.

"Money doesn't hurt," he remarked, "but it doesn't solve things."

Deam said he's looking for ways to boost the youth programs that feed Jefferson in a variety of sports.

Overall, he thinks Jefferson fans should be excited about the future. He hopes they are.

"Better days are ahead," he said. "I'd also remind that everything is a process. Have patience."