MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (WCCO) – Mark Mauer is embarking on his first high school football coaching job after working with seven college programs, including the head job at Concordia University in St. Paul.

“I’m excited about it…Kids are a joy to be around. They’re like sponges – they’re absorbing everything, they’re working hard. But we’ve got a long ways to go. But I’m excited about this opportunity here at Hill-Murray,” Mauer said.

High school football is certainly a change of pace, says Mauer.

“The structure is completely different. You don’t have as many hours with them, you obviously can’t implement or install as you typically do in the college level, and that’s true to the next step,” he said. ‘Those college guys are going into the NFL and they’re doing a whole different game itself. So, I understand that, and I’m trying to transition to the high school level because this is my first time.”

Hill-Murrary is not a bad program to make your first. Last year, Brooks Bollinger turned it into a state semi-final team before leaving to coach in the college system.

In other words, the Hill-Murrary is not bare.

“They had a lot of success last year, so they understand winning, and they tasted it, it’s here. They understand it and what it takes. So they’re working hard. It’s just a new offense, it’s a new system, It’s new terminology. And really finding out whether or not these kids can do some of the things I’m used to coaching,” he said.

And Mauer, Joe’s cousin, is back doing what he loves, at a new level.

“Right now for me in the transitional period, it’s about finding out what these kids are capable of doing,” said Mauer.