Student-athletes at Vermilion Community College are returning to town.
While classes don’t begin until Aug. 25, both the football and volleyball teams begin workouts within days, in preparation for the start of their respective 2025 campaigns.
It’s a new era of sorts on the gridiron at Vermilion, where former Ironhawk player and assistant coach Zuriel Cook has taken the reins as head coach.
Cook, the program’s fourth head coach in as many seasons, is hoping to bring stability to a program that has been in flux for much of the last decade.
Vermilion picked up one victory last fall but was often outmanned by teams with much larger and deeper rosters.
As many as 50 players could be on the practice field as workouts begin Monday.
The football season-opener is slated for Thursday, Sept. 4 at Rochester.
The home debut isn’t until Sept. 27, when Fergus Falls is here for a Parents’ Weekend clash slated for 3 p.m. at Ely School Stadium. Other home dates are set for Oct. 11 and Oct. 18.
Also this week, the volleyball team will begin workouts with a replenished roster and Sammy Redman Wiggen taking over as head coach.
Vermilion went 0-17 a year ago and Wiggen is rebuilding with about 12 players on the roster.
The Ironhawks have a scrimmage Aug. 19 and open the regular season with an Aug. 23 triangular, against Gogebic and Itasca, at Ironwood, MI.
