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Photos by Jimmy Mitchell.
Hewitt-Trussville defensive coordinator Sean Talsma during a game between West Forsyth (Georgia) andHewitt-Trussville on Aug. 30 at Husky Field at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium.
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Photos by Jimmy Mitchell.
Talsma reviews plays during the game.
Sean Talsma wears two bands on his right wrist, one black and one gray.
Printed on the black one are three words, “I Am Second,” a reminder to the first-year Hewitt-Trussville High School defensive coordinator to humble himself, put God first and put his family’s needs before his own.
The gray one also includes three words, “God Is Bigger.” That one has quite the story. Disappointed after Clay-Chalkville’s 31-28 loss to Spanish Fort in the Class 6A state championship game in 2015, Talsma began to leave the field when he saw the wristband resting on the Bryant-Denny Stadium grass. He picked it up, and it all just clicked.
“This is just a game,” said Talsma, who has coached in his home state of Michigan, Georgia and Alabama. “God is so much more. I mean, get your mind right. Get wrapped around that, where you need to be. It keeps me grounded.”
He hasn’t taken it off since.
Talsma played collegiately at Hope College, a Christian college in Michigan. He grew up in the church and tries to live that lifestyle. It is part of what attracted him to Hewitt-Trussville.
Looking for an open defensive coordinator position early this year, Talsma found himself deciding between Hewitt-Trussville and another local high school. Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd offered him the job on a Sunday, the final day of 21 Days of Prayer at Talsma’s church, Church of the Highlands.
“I felt that was the one that I needed to do,” Talsma said. “It’s crazy how things work out like that. It was the last day, Coach called me, and I was like, ‘Wow. It’s bigger than me.’ It’s bigger than anything I could put in place.”
He felt a peace about accepting the Huskies’ defensive coordinator job after that. He let the other school he was considering know about his decision in person, not by phone. It was respectful. One of his reasons for accepting the Hewitt-Trussville job was the challenge. In recent years, the talk is almost always about the offense.
“I saw it as a challenge,” he said. “That’s what I want. I want to be challenged daily with things. I’m extremely thankful to Josh for this opportunity. It’s one of those things that this is a high-profile job. It’s 7A, and Josh felt like I was someone who could fit in with this staff and help these kids. I feel extremely blessed to have this job.”
He came into a great situation. The Hewitt-Trussville defense is versatile. The linebackers are strong enough to walk up on the defensive line and agile enough to drop into coverage. Two defensive linemen, Eric Taylor and sophomore Justice Finkley, are SEC-caliber players. Taylor is already committed to LSU, while Finkley holds SEC scholarship offers. Malachi Moore is a senior safety committed to play at Alabama. There are more underclassmen contributing in a big way this season.
“Potentially, I think we could probably be one of the best defenses this school has had,” Talsma said. “It all comes from humbling yourself and working every day.”
Those are traits Talsma focuses on. He tells his players they have to “earn it,” in football and life. There are no handouts. He also preaches the acronym M.A.P., which stands for “Make a Play,” also applicable to football and life. He keeps up with former players, from texting a current collegiate athlete in Michigan to hugging former players at a local gas station. He texts with a player who played for him a decade ago and now lives in California.
“I just try to be there for them,” he said. It helps Talsma on the football field that he teaches psychology at Hewitt-Trussville High. The defensive coordinator job helps him in the classroom.
“I’m coaching psychology, and I’m teaching football,” Talsma said. “I enjoy that. It’s a lot of fun in my classroom.”
Talsma said he, his wife, Jasmine, and 1-year-old son Roman are enjoying Trussville. He said there is a real sense of community.
“It’s more than just the Xs and Os,” he said. “It’s a family atmosphere. So, hopefully we can be here for a long time.”
Talsma said he hopes to see his players and students push through the hard times and finish what they start. That may mean a football season. It may mean a relationship. Either way, they’re life lessons.
“There are always people in your corner,” he said. “Five years down the road, if one of these kids needs something, I’m going to be there for them.”
