CUT BANK – For the third time in three years, there have been changes in the coaching staff of the Cut Bank football team.

Paul Schilling, long-time coach of the Wolves, is back in the team after almost a decade of absence.

“It feels good to be back home. I’m happy to be wearing purple and gold,” Schilling said during training on Thursday.

He picked a good year to return to the program, especially since the team is honoring a coach he considers a mentor.

“I’ve missed the Wolves and I’m telling you, this is a special fall because we’re going to honor Coach (Ron) Kowalski, who is a legendary coach here,” Schilling said. “They’re going to name the field after him and I wanted to be a part of it.”

But while Schilling is back, his players have had to adjust to another new head coach.

“It’s a little rough on them,” Schilling said. “They’ve done a great job, and I think we’re really trying to keep it simple and go from there.”

Two of the older students, Alex Wahl and Dallas Berkram, have gone through many changes, but both say the transition to Schilling has been smooth.

“There is a good energy, we are flying around and having a lot of fun here with coach Schilling,” said Wahl. “We are all learning a lot from him.”

“There is simply a new energy in the team,” said Berkram.

The team made the Class B playoffs last season and hopes to get there and beyond again this fall. But that’s not the Wolves’ only goal.

“We always talk about making sure the kids do the right thing, and that’s one of my mottos: that we’re not only going to be good football players, but we’re going to try to be good people,” Schilling said.

The Wolves’ season begins on August 30th at 7 p.m. away at Townsend.