No cursing is allowed on the field. Positive reinforcement is taught almost exclusively. Prioritizing effort, attitude and toughness is the main focus. These are a few of the mantras of second year coach Nicholas Isaacson at Clear Creek High School. 

Ahead of the Golddiggers’ home opener and second game of the season against The Pinnacle Charter School from Federal Heights, Isaacson sat down to talk about his background, his program in progress and the 2023 season at large. 

After going 2-7 in 2022, he believes his team is on the up-and-up, despite having a way to go. The Golddiggers went 0-1 after a close 30-22 loss to Ellicott from Calhan in week one, but bounced back with a massive 46-0 victory over Pinnacle in week two Thursday night. Last season Pinnacle blundered Clear Creek 54-6. 

Isaacson said Clear Creek has lost by an average of 40.8 points in losses over the last four years, so it’s a big step forward. 

“Clear Creek is on the upward trajectory here,” Isaacson said. “If we clean up some penalties and turnovers, we’ll surprise some people this year.” 

Growing up as the son of a coach in small-town Wisconsin, Isaacson was always destined for football. As an all-state running back for Milton High School, Isaacson won a state championship with his team in 1989, capping off a 1,510-yard season which included 219 in the championship game. 

His stellar senior campaign led to him being recruited heavily, and he leveraged his success into a four-year career at Harvard, where he studied law while playing football. When his college days were over, he couldn’t stay away from the rush and physicality of the game, so he played rugby for the better part of a decade. 

A combination of an injury and having children ended his rugby days, but he didn’t want to give up sports completely, so he coached his kids’ teams as they grew up. He moved to Colorado a couple years back, and was hired at Clear Creek last June quickly before the season started. 

But in 2023, he’s had a full offseason with his team, and he’s fired up about the Golddiggers’ potential this year and beyond. But with barely 200 students at the school, it’s still an uphill battle compared to larger schools in the area and conference. 

For more from Isaacson, check out the Q&A below. 

Clear Creek Courant: What was your focus going into a program that historically hasn’t won a ton of games? 

Nicholas Isaacson: The number one thing I tried to do from the get-go is … all the successful teams I’ve had, they have a strong culture. They work hard in the offseason. I think that’s when you win most of your games. They put a lot of effort in, not just practice, but in the classroom. That’s one of our mantras this year, which is E.A.T., or effort, attitude and toughness. We started building that last year, changing some of the culture here in terms of working harder in the classroom, no cursing on the field, we’re always jogging on the field, etc. With attitude, I can’t stand the finger-pointing. I can’t stand bullying. Those are my two pet peeves for coaching. Toughness is just not just off the field but in the classroom … trying to build a better student athlete. 

CCC: What have you seen from your team early into this season? 

NI: I think we’re building on what we did last season. I came in late last season, sort of in June, and didn’t have an offseason with the team. This season, we have, and I think we’ve developed a pretty good speed, strength and agility training program. So the kids I think are quickly getting bigger, faster, stronger. I think that when you participate in programs like that, you build not just the physical strength but mental strength. One thing that I liked (from week one) is the zero finger-pointing. If you watch the tape, you’d see that. What’s an area of improvement? It would be our respective offensive and defensive lines. We have kids that have never played football before on those lines, and they’re learning. I’d also like to see the coaching improve, both myself and our entire staff of coaches. 

CCC: What are some measurements of success for your team outside of the win-loss column?

NI: There’s low expectations, but when they see their kids coming home and believing in themselves, and doing better in the classroom, and being more competitive in games … overall I think that’s a success. If we can just be more competitive in some of these games, that’s a big win too. Every team we play this year will be bigger than us. And that’s not an excuse, but it’s just a reality. 

CCC: Throughout your career, was there a single coach that influenced you in your approach as a coach or leader?

NI: My dad, before becoming a lawyer, was a football coach in Florida, Illinois and Wisconsin. And he coached me up until about eighth grade. A lot of his influence is in what I do, and it’s generally focused on being positive. Lombardi was a great coach, sure, but a lot of coaches out there thing they’re Lombardi. There’s too much sort of negative and punishment in football. Not to be kumbaya because I’m not that kind of coach, but I do focus on positive reinforcement and make sure my coaches do that as well. We have kids that are living in low income households and kids that have seven-figure homes; realizing that more fall in the former than the latter category. They need someone to believe in them. My dad helped teach me that. But in terms of strategy, I pave my own path.

CCC: Finally, who are some of your players to keep an eye on this season and why? 

NI: I’d say No. 1 is probably senior Collin Hendrickson (WR,DE). He hasn’t played football since he was a freshman, but he’s back out. He’s 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds and an all-state basketball player. He’s a hard matchup one-on-one. Logan Ginter (OLB,RB) is another guy, he’s a junior. I almost never make a junior a captain, but I think he earned it in terms of leading by example and working hard, not pointing fingers, etc. Jacob Young, our quarterback. He’s only a sophomore but I think he’s a real talent. He’ll certainly help us win many games. Last I’d say Bobbie Hester. He’s a senior and also one of the captains. He’s our center which is a new position for him, but he’s doing great ... He’s hard to move. So those are four. 

To view Clear Creek’s full schedule and roster for the 2023 season, visit www.maxpreps.com/co/evergreen/clear-creek-golddiggers.