The relationship between player and coach is a special one. Countless days and hours are spent together at practice, in film study and training. But for first-year SAM linebacker Samuel Hezekiah and assistant defensive backs coach Sean Oleksewycz, it's more of a father-son dynamic than a player-coach relationship.

"He calls me his second dad," Oleksewycz says. "Him and I are tight. He's probably the tightest player I've ever had in nine years now."

Hezekiah started playing football for the East Side Eagles when he was 11 years old, making it to the provincial championship as a running back in his debut season. He's been hooked ever since.

In grade nine, the Nigeria native transitioned to the River East Kodiaks varsity program, where he spent his first season learning under the veterans at the running back position.

The following year however, Oleksewycz — who was the team's defensive coordinator at the time — came to him with a proposition.

"[Oleksewycz] was like, 'come on over and try playing on the defensive side for me for a bit,'" says Hezekiah. "I was always an offensive guy who scored touchdowns. I hated tackling when I was younger too. But he slowly transitioned me into a defensive back and that's the position I play now."

Hezekiah started at halfback in grade ten and also played slotback in order to further understand the routes and schemes of those he would be covering.

"Him playing offence I think has helped with understanding passing concepts to be a better defensive back," Oleksewycz says of the multi-talented athlete.

In 2017, Hezekiah developed even further as a halfback. He played so well that teams rarely bothered to throw the ball his way. Hezekiah's performance as both an offensive and defensive threat earned him a nod as one of the top 100 players in Canada for his grade 12 season in 2018.

Naturally, Oleksewycz — River East's head coach last year — was happy for him, but what gave him an even bigger grin was seeing how much Hezekiah matured over the years.

The head coach recalls how basic locker room talk and jaw-jacking used to upset the versatile athlete. That's not the case anymore.

"I've been coaching in high school now for nine years, and he's had the most growth of any kid I've had," Oleksewycz says.

"He works extremely hard in the weight room and he's extremely dedicated. He's put his time in and I'm extremely proud of him. He's going to be a leader in the future for sure."

Oleksewycz's belief in Hezekiah was evident last season, as the then first-year bench boss relied on his player as a shut-down halfback while also giving him the reigns as the starting quarterback.

The results were evident. Hezekiah earned the Division 2 Bomber Alumni Player of the Year award while also helping Oleksewycz — a former player for the Kodiaks — bring home River East's first championship in 21 years.

"It's great, because he has a lot of respect for me and I have a lot of respect for him," Hezekiah says of the dynamic he shares with his former head coach.

"We just have a great bond like that. It feels really good that my coach is behind me and looks at me for leadership when I'm on the field on offence and on defence."

The pair's bond will grow even closer for the next four years, with both now a part of the Manitoba Bisons program. Hezekiah committed to the squad relatively early on and Oleksewycz, who's also a former defensive coordinator for Team Manitoba's U16 program – was offered a spot on the staff not too long after that.

The latter will go down as having one of the best single-season runs in WHSFL head coaching history. He's excited to continue his progression as a teacher on the field while also getting to see Hezekiah grow as a player. The true freshman has already shown flashes of brilliance as a Bison, starting for the first time in week two against Calgary.

"He's the best player I've ever coached," Oleksewycz says.

"If [Sammy] just keeps his head up and keeps working, he's going to the CFL."