Accent? What accent?
Senior safety/running back Chevelle Clements and his Larkin teammates don’t even think twice about the southern accent of second-year coach Grant Dietz, a Virginia native.
The voice may sound different, but they speak the same language — football.
“We kind of accepted him from day one,” said Clements, a third-year varsity player. “We gave him a chance, you know, and he took us to the playoffs last year.
“After doing something like that, we believe in him.”
Indeed, the Royals do.
Larkin finished 5-5 last year and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2006, losing to eventual Class 7A state champion Wheaton North in the first round.
Dietz, who teaches mathematics, came to the U-46 school after several years teaching and serving as an assistant coach at Rockford East.
He was subbing in the district when he joined the staff of first-year coach Matt Gehrig in 2019 to oversee special teams and help with the offensive line.
One season later, Dietz moved up to head coach following Gehrig’s departure, but he still remembers his first meeting with players in the weight room.
“Guys said, ‘Wait a minute, you aren’t from around here, are you?'” Dietz said, chuckling.
Dietz met his wife, who grew up in the south suburb of South Holland, when both were high school teachers at Chancellor in Fredericksburg, Virginia. They came to Illinois to be closer to her family.
Dietz had played NCAA Division II football at Frostburg State in Maryland.
“That helped build a little trust in him, that he knew what he was talking about,” Clements said. “Some players may tell you he runs us a lot, but to me, he wants what’s best for us.”
It also seems to be working.
Seven weeks into his second season, Dietz appears to have the Royals (4-3) poised to make a second straight trip to the playoffs.
Larkin’s remaining games are Friday at home against Elgin (3-4) in the annual battle for The Town Jug and then next week against West Chicago (1-6).
More Top Picks Best Kayak Storage Racks
One win makes them playoff eligible. A second win clinches a playoff spot.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Clements, who knows something about making a name for himself, has helped lead the way along with junior running back Jalen Miller.
Clements ran for two touchdowns and Miller added one last week — all in the second quarter — as Larkin beat Bartlett 21-20. The Royals batted down a pass in the end zone on the final play to secure the win.
“I’m the fifth in my family,” said Clements, who shares first, middle and last names with his dad and three brothers. “People always say, ‘You remind me of a muscle car.’ That’s a compliment to me.”
Opponents know Clements, according to Dietz.
“Chevelle and Jalen are the two horses we ride,” Dietz said. “We count on them offensively and defensively. They’re our thunder and lightning.”
Larkin struggled early in the season, hurt by graduation losses, and lost to Glenbard East, Glenbard South and South Elgin in the first four weeks.
“Those are the top three teams in the conference,” Dietz said. “After that, anybody can beat anybody. We wanted to compete early and then try to win out.”
So far, so good, especially with new talent emerging.
“I have 13 seniors, and seven of them are first-year players,” Dietz said. “We have a bunch of first-year juniors, too.”
Last year’s success is helping improve program numbers, which now exceed 80.
The results delight Clements.
“At the beginning of the season, we had people telling us we weren’t going to win any games at all,” Clements said. “When you have haters like that, that’s motivation to prove everybody wrong.
“We’ve got other weapons.”
It’s not a dynasty, but it’s a start, no matter the accent.