Pike Patriot linebacker Camden Koenning and his father Troy defensive coordinator Vic Koenning share a relationship with the game of football.

Vic Koenning has traveled around the country and coached at schools such as North Carolina and Clemson. After following his father around, Camden is happy to become a Pike Patriot.

“I have been to four or five different schools,” Camden said. “I have had the most fun here playing football.”

Throughout his playing career, Camden has benefitted from the advice of a father who is known as the architect of some of the nation’s top defenses.

“It’s pretty cool,” Camden said. “He helps me out a lot on defense.”

As a linebacker, Camden is becoming a force for the Patriots defense. This season he has tallied 58 tackles.

“I don’t know if he will be as good as me or better,” Vic Koenning said. “He is the same size I was as a senior and he is a sophomore. He is in a similar mode that I was in as a linebacker. On Saturdays he is beat up because he throws his body around.”

Last Friday night, Vic Koenning was able to watch his sons, Camden and Jackson Koenning, and the rest of the Patriots take on Lee Scott and it wasn’t easy.

“I was about to lose my mind,” Vic Koenning said. “Lee Scott was running wish bone stuff. I know how to fix the problem, but that is not my place. I saw him early in the game tackling high against their running back and I hollered at him, which is something I don’t normally do. I told him to tackle him low, and he did.”

For Camden seeing his father and hearing his critiques is something he welcomes.

“He mostly tells me what I do wrong and what I can improve on,” Camden said. “I definitely welcome that constructive criticism. He is an expert, and he knows what he is talking about.”

With a busy schedule, Vic Koenning can’t make it to all the games, but even though he is not in attendance that doesn’t mean he isn’t getting feedback.

“Away games are hard, but my wife usually tells me what the scores are,” Vic Koenning said. “I am getting constant updates.”

Even though football is a big part of both of their lives, Vic Koenning said it is not the most important.

“As a parent the school part of it is the most important thing,” Vic Koenning said. “Their happiness and having a good experience is the second most important thing. The third most important thing is competing and playing hard.”

With two years left, Camden has dreams of playing college football at the Division 1 but knows he still has work that needs to be done.

“That is my goal,” Camden said. “I need to work on my decision making and the ability to get off my blocks.”