For Josh Vaughn, football is “just fundamentals,” and he’s ready to take his own fundamental skills to the football program at Avila University in Kansas City. Vaughn has committed to play at Avila starting next fall.
“I’m going to be learning a new defense and offense when I go up there, and I have all the skills I need to go up there and do good,” Vaughn says. Vaughn excelled at Republic in the defensive backfield, where he had a career-high nine interceptions as a junior.
Coach Wes Beachler says Vaughn’s ability to work hard while having fun is a key to his success.
“He’s a hard worker in practice. He…plays the game hard, but he likes to have fun,” says Beachler. “Hopefully he can carry that attitude with him to college, because it’s a lot more business-like. But you’ve still got to have fun playing or you won’t last very long. So hopefully he continues to work as hard as he has academically and athletically, then also maintains that fun-loving spirit and joy to play the game.”
Vaughn spent his years at Republic playing for two different coaches — three years with Kurt Thompson and one with Beachler. Vaughn believes his adjustment to a new coach in high school will serve him well as he moves to college.
“Switching coaches was honestly a huge blessing to me, because I got so used to Coach Thompson, I loved him a lot, but he taught one way, and Coach Beachler taught another way,” says Vaughn. “Both ways were great, and now…I can cope with different things. Let’s say one coach yells at me and one coach gives me some positive reinforcement. I’m not going to get down either way. It’s just going to help me in other areas.”
Vaughn says he liked the Kansas City area and the Avila campus during his visit, and was impressed by the fact that Avila’s coaches talked about the football team as a “family.” He says he’s ready to make the transition to a new team, even though he doesn’t yet know his teammates.
“When you start football, you don’t know everyone you’re playing with,” says Vaughn. “But towards the end of the season, kids that I didn’t know, I’d still do anything for them just because they’re my family.”