East Mills Co-Coach Michael Nordeen Ready for New Season and New Home Field / Senior Landon Gibbs Ready to Lead East Mills on Both Sides of the Ball

East Mills Co-Coach Michael Nordeen Ready for New Season and New Home Field:  

 

East Mills football is entering a new chapter this fall, and co-head coach Michael Nordeen is right in the middle of it. In an early-morning conversation at East Mills High School, Nordeen shared insights on the Wolverines’ roster, coaching structure, challenging schedule, and the excitement surrounding the program’s brand-new football facility.

Nordeen, who returns this season after serving as a volunteer coach last year, is pairing with Trent Turney in a co-coaching arrangement that carried over from 2025. Turney handles the offensive side of the ball while Nordeen takes the defensive side. The two collaborate on program standards and structure.

“He takes care of the offensive side. I take care of the defensive side, and then we work together on the structure, the standards of the program,” Nordeen said. “Last year was the same thing. I was a volunteer here last year, so I took care of the defense for him, and he took care of the offense. And it works well. We blend together and talk it out on Sundays, and then we bring our plan together for the kids.”

The Wolverines currently have about 23 to 24 players out, with a relatively even distribution across grade levels and a healthy group of eight freshmen. Nordeen highlighted several key returners who will help set the tone, including seniors Tyson Viner, Landon Gibbs, and Mason Camden.

“We got some pretty good seniors that are going to help the program with Tyson Viner, Landon Gibbs, Mason Camden,” he said. “They’ve been around the program for a while. They’re just talented kids and great kids to be around.”

Nordeen described the skill players as quick and tough, drawing a comparison to former East Mills standout Dawson Bond. Up front, he expects Viner to be a difference-maker.

“We got a big, old, mean kid up front named Tyson Viner. Don’t worry, he’s nice in the hallways. But when we get on that football field, he changes it and flips a switch. He’s going to be a difference-maker for us.”

Younger players such as Tyler Buckner, Gavin Moyer, and Tyson Ellis are competing for offensive line spots. Buckner saw limited action last season, while Moyer and Ellis are sophomores bringing the kind of heart Nordeen wants on the field.

Schedule Adjustments and Early Tests

East Mills’ schedule required some late adjustments after two opponents were unable to fulfill their commitments. The Wolverines added GMG (Garner-Mount Garwin) and other contests to ensure the players still get a full slate of games.

“I’ll play anybody. We’ll meet in a parking lot and play if you want to,” Nordeen said with a smile. “So we just wanted to make sure these kids get eight games. We had a ninth game, but it fell through. So now we’re just getting that eighth. So it’s just making sure the kids get opportunities to play and have fun and be high school kids.”

The season opens Friday, August 21, at Griswold – a rematch of last year’s dramatic Week 0 contest. East Mills trailed 20-0 at halftime a year ago before storming back for a 32-31 victory.

 

Senior Landon Gibbs Ready to Lead East Mills on Both Sides of the Ball:  

 

East Mills senior Landon Gibbs is entering his final high school football season with a clear preference for defense, a steady leadership presence, and plenty of excitement about the Wolverines’ brand-new home field.

Gibbs will play running back on offense and linebacker on defense this fall. When asked which side of the ball he enjoys more, the answer came without hesitation.

“I definitely prefer defense more just because it’s easier to just do my own thing and work as a team at the same time,” Gibbs said. “You don’t have to rely on blockers or, I guess, a quarterback to get you the ball or anything. You can kind of just move to the ball and do whatever you got to do.”

As a senior, Gibbs understands the extra responsibility that comes with the role, especially with younger players still learning the system. He sees his job as helping the younger guys stay on track.

“Just making sure everyone’s where they have to be and doing the right thing, because young kids don’t know where to be, what to do, how to do it,” he explained. “So you just got to make sure they know what to do and make sure they have the timing right.”