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DES MOINES, Iowa – The road to Grand View University for Muscatine’s Trace Ball followed coaching ties.

The sophomore punter, whose father Randy is the special teams coach at Muscatine High School, was close with former Muscatine assistant coach Jon Pilcher – now an assistant coach with the Vikings.

The relationship with Pilcher, also, led Ball to Iowa Central Community College where he punted for the nationally-ranked junior college team last year.

“Coach Pilcher’s dad (Dennis) is the athletic director at Iowa Central,” Ball said, “and now he (Jon) is at Grand View.”

Vikings coach Mike Woodley, who is in his second season in the program that began in 2008, was an assistant coach at Iowa State University for nine seasons.

“We needed a punter and we visited with Trace,” Woodley said. “Coach Pilcher is on our staff and he knew Trace from Muscatine. I think that is what led Trace to Iowa Central, too.”

Although Ball, a 2007 graduate of Muscatine High School, was being looked at by other schools, he chose the second-year Vikings program because he said it was the best fit for him.

“I visited coach Woodley, knowing that he coached at Iowa State,” Ball said, “and I could tell this program could go far in the next couple of years.”

Ball is averaging 32.3 yards per punt for Grand View with a long of 55. He has punted 30 times for 968 total yards and placed 10 punts inside the 20-yard line. He has also boomed three punts for 50 yards or more.

In Ball’s last outing, he averaged only 21.7 yards, but that was not typical for him.

“We had some issues of protection from the line and had some where I was punting from the 30 (yard line) and I wanted to pin them deep,” Ball said, “so I wasn’t going to have a big net average. Also, there have been some windy games where I was punting into the wind a lot. That’s not an excuse because you have to play in all conditions, because it is football.

“I always want to do better – my goal is a 40 yard average – I can still attain the goal as long as I finish up strong.”

Earlier in the season, Ball was also responsible for kickoff duties, but that has been pulled because of an injury.

“Because of a groin injury, I’m primarily sticking to punting,” Ball said. “I’ll probably get back to it once my groin heals all the way.”

Thus far, Woodley has been impressed with Ball’s punting.

“He’s done a wonderful job,” Woodley said. “I’m happy to have him here. He’s athletic and he’d been kicking off until (he suffered) a groin injury. But I’m happy with the results with Trace.

“Obviously coming from junior college, he’s a little older than some of the kids we have, but he fits in real well. We knew we’d get a good kid that would fit in well.”

Ball played soccer when he was young, but he didn’t play for the Muscatine soccer team. It was his dad who got him into punting.

“My dad is the special teams coach and he asked if I would try because there was not a lot of depth there,” Ball said. “I owe it all to my dad because he taught me a lot.”

Grand View, an NAIA school, is 5-2 so far this season and 4-0 in the conference.

“We’re looking to finish up strong,” Ball said. “I expect big things, especially next year and the year after. I want the team to make the playoffs (this year) and be conference champs. I could care less what I do – it’s more about the team than about me.”

Nonetheless, Woodley foresees a good future for Ball.

“We think (he can have a good future),” Woodley said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him so far. He can only get better and better. He’s got a great attitude, we like him and he’s very coachable.”

Getting to know:

School: Grand View University

Sport: Football

Hometown: Muscatine

Parents: Randy & Tina Ball and Pete & Wendy Lizama

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6-0/175

Position: Punter

Major: Broadcasting