Doniphan introduces new football coach

Doniphan High School is looking toward an experienced leader to grow its football program as the school introduced Jameson Allen as the Dons’ new head football coach Monday morning.

Stepping into his 33rd year of coaching, Allen has high expectations to take the Doniphan Dons to the next level.

“I’m excited, and it’s an honor to be here,” Allen said about his new position. “I think this will be a great opportunity to change the complexion of the whole school district and program.

“It’s important that schools like this, who maybe hadn’t had a lot of success before, get an opportunity to experience it. I hope to bring that because everyone deserves an opportunity to experience success and this is the perfect spot.”

Allen is originally from Richmond, Mo., which is just east of Kansas City. He attended college at Central Methodist University, where he played football and track. After graduation, he then went to Hastings College in Nebraska to get his master’s degree in teacher education and athletic administration while being a graduate assistant for the football and track teams.

Recently, Allen served as an assistant coach at Westminster College for one season. Prior to that, he spent 11 years as head football coach at University City, Lutheran South in south St. Louis County and Westminster Academy in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. During those years, Allen notched in over 70 wins, a coach of the year runner-up, two district championships, and one state semifinals berth while at Lutheran South in 2017.

For the past five seasons, Doniphan has struggled to find an identity as a new football program, but Allen said winning will be his top priority heading into his first season with the Dons. He understands that there’s a process, but he wants to ensure the team and the community that he intends to win now.

“I plan to instill that winning positivity and culture into this team starting today,” Allen said. “We’re going to learn that the goal is to win every week and every game. Once we instill that into them, then the work ethic will follow. They have to understand for us to win, we have to grind, so starting now, they need to put on their work hat and pull their bootstraps on because it’s time to go to work.”

Joining Allen from Westminster College is assistant coach Kobe Kaminski. Both coached together at Westminster, where Kaminski was in charge of putting the defense together. Allen said he couldn’t ask for a better running mate to bring over to Doniphan and is fortunate to bring such an impressive young coach with him that he can trust to get the job done.

“I’m beyond blessed and very humble to be here,” Kaminski said. “I’m blessed that Jameson speaks of me in such high regard, but it’s great to have a mentor, especially someone that’s done it at the high school level and had success. I’m still very new to coaching, but I’d like to think I have a pretty good football mind.

“I’m excited to get going, and it’s great that the community has invested a lot into the football program, and I’m ready to give some returns on that investment. I want this program to be a place where the kids love coming to practice and school and be a part of something that the community can be proud of.”

Doniphan R-I superintendent Brad Hagood feels the same enthusiasm as he welcomes both coaches to the district.

“This district is excited to have both coaches on board here,” Hagood said. “The first time I spoke with Coach Allen, I knew he was the right guy for the job if he was willing to come here. With his enthusiasm and experience, I felt he would be great for the kids and the community. We’re very thankful to have him and Coach Kaminski here with us to start next school year.”

As Allen prepares for his next journey, he wants the school and community to know that he is here to serve and help in any way he can, whether on the field or academically.

“I just want to help,” Allen said. I want to be someone that they can be proud of. I want to produce something they can be proud of for a very long time, and I’m just excited to meet all the people and kids here and get started because this community deserves it.

They deserve a successful program into which they’ve invested a lot of money, time and resources. Hopefully, we can give that to them with hard work and dedication.”