For one night in Monmouth, the colors of maroon and gold were once again spotted on a high school football field. They returned to help honor one of the most successful coaches in the history of Warren County football.
Warren Dobry coached the Monmouth Zippers from 1981-2000. In his 20 years, he won 129 games. Dobry also coached the Zippers to the 1983 Class 3A state championship, 7 conference titles, and 11 appearances in the playoffs.
On Friday night, before the Monmouth-Roseville Titans started their season by hosting Oregon, a ceremony was held at the 50-yard line to rename the arena as “Coach Dobry Field.” Friends and former players attended to honor the former coach, some sporting a maroon t-shirt with a golden silhouette of Dobry on the front and his accomplishments listed on the back.
Dobry said the achievements were not done alone.
“That name up there is a tribute to everybody who had anything to do with Zipper football at that time. I’m only a part of it,” Dobry said.
Dobry said one thing he’ll remember most is how he connected with his players off the field, even after they graduated.
“You just want to make sure you know how they’re doing, because you care for them then, you’re going to continue to care for them. It’s nice to know how they’re doing,” Dobry said.
Dobry said he’ll also remember the success he had in his first years on the Zippers sideline. He said he was also blessed with a string of running quarterbacks as well as players that knew his system and had the skills to make it work.
