Coach Derek Zellner runs his football program at Gilbert based off his motto “First class or no class.”

That’s not how Gilbert was run before Zellner arrived in April 2015. “The inmates ran the asylum,” Zellner said. “It was a free-for-all.”

Not anymore.

Zellner consulted with his players his first season and established structure, consistency, set practice times and an offensive, defensive and special teams plan.

In Zellner’s first season, Gilbert finished 5-5. “I think that sent a big message right there because they hadn’t seen much success before that,” Zellner said.

The road hasn’t been smooth. Gilbert finished 1-9 two seasons ago and 4-6 last season.

But Zellner wanted to establish a culture and develop his players into young men.

“He wants us to be better men outside of football,” linebacker Ray Vega said. “Inside of football, just be as good as we can be, knowing our playbook.”

Zellner injected a positive energy that affected his players.

“They really enjoy being out there,” Zellner said. “We do so many crazy things, we try to make it fun for the kids.”

Former Gilbert wide receiver Zach Phillips recalled what Zellner told his team the first season. “‘Look I know you had these coaches before, I know you’re loyalty was here. But I’m here, I have your back. If you guys just listen to me and buy into the process it’s going to go a whole lot better.’”

Phillips said his teammates gained respect for Zellner and bought into his program.

Phillips experienced a culture shock once Zellner took over. 

“The program he had was just different than anything I experienced,” Phillips said. “Being a player, you can really trust him, listen to him and he wasn’t really blowing smoke up your butt.”

Phillips said the previous two regimes allowed assistants to do whatever they wanted and another coach micromanaged at every position.

Zellner earned the trust of his players.

“Coach Z was the first coach that I’ve seen to where his actions followed his words,” Phillips said. “What the man says, that’s what is going to happen.”

Zellner’s work has paid off. Gilbert has not started 4-3 in a season since Zellner’s first at the helm.

Zellner has brought stability to a program that had two coaches in the three seasons prior to his arrival.

“We started off in the outhouse and we’re just trying to work our way up to a penthouse,” Zellner said. “Right now, we’re just cruising down the road in a motor home.”