Professional coaching
Edmonton Eskimos’ coach Maas visits hometown, works with Harvest Prep football
When it was time to split up into position groups and the dozen or so Harvest Prep football players were asked which of them were quarterbacks, roughly half raised their hand.
They all wanted to work with Jason Maas, and who could blame them?
It’s not every day that Yuma-area kids get to learn from a former professional quarterback turned current professional head coach.
Maas, who around these parts is known for starring at Yuma High in the early 1990s and in up north is known as head coach of the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos, is back in his hometown for the first time in three years and took time out of his visit to work with Harvest Prep’s athletes Thursday afternoon.
Don Klostreich, a volunteer coach for Harvest Prep who was an assistant for Maas’ teams back in Maas’ Kofa/Yuma High days, arranged for Maas’ appearance.
Before the hour-plus workout, Klostreich introduced the 42-yearold Maas to the group of youngsters, going over Maas’ local accolades — he was named as the top high school quarterback in the state as a senior in 1994 — and beyond.
After playing at the University of Oregon from 1994-98 and then a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad, Maas enjoyed a 12-year CFL career, during which he won Grey Cups with the Eskimos in 2003 and 2005.
Maas began his coaching career as an quarterbacks coach in Toronto from 2012-14, then spent a season as offensive coordinator in Ottawa before becoming Edmonton’s head coach in 2016.
“It’s been great, I’ve learned a lot,” Maas said. “We’ve been successful, I have a great staff to work with, a great organization to be a part of, and great players.”
The Eskimos have compiled a 2214 record over Maas’ first two seasons, going 10-8 in 2016 and 12-6 in 2017 and falling just one win shy of reaching the Grey Cup both years.
“We’re right on the cusp,” Maas said. “We’ve been to the semifinals two straight years, and we’ve got to get over the hump this year. But overall it’s been a great experience and grown my love for the game.”
Maas said he always knew he eventually wanted to get into coaching, dating back to his playing days in Yuma, but had no idea it’d happen this quickly.
“I think you always want to get to the top and head-coaching is something I immediately wanted to obtain,” he said. “I didn’t have a timetable for it, and I was thankful it happened quickly I guess in coaching realms. I’ve been very grateful I’ve been able to be a head coach, let alone in an area like Edmonton where I played.”
Asked whether more pressure comes with the job of head coach or starting quarterback, Maas chuckled: “Good question.
“To be quite honest with you, probably only in Edmonton is it equal. I think there’s different expectations put on both of them, but nothing short of huge expectations to accomplish that end feat, which is winning a Grey Cup.”
Maas’ coaching responsibilities have prevented him from visiting Yuma the past few years, but before that he said he tried to make it back once every year or so.
Getting the opportunity to work