Thegatewaynews.com - Huge replaces Hall as Nordonia's head football coach

by Michael Leonard

Sports Editor

Macedonia -- After losing former head coach Jason Hall, the Nordonia football team didn't have to look far to find a suitable replacement.

Al Huge was introduced April 29 as the new Nordonia head football coach. While this will be Huge's first head coaching job, he is no stranger to the Nordonia program, having coached with the Knights in various capacities since 1997.

Huge has served as Nordonia's defensive coordinator since 2002. His promotion is expected to be confirmed at the May 19 meeting of Nordonia Board of Education meeting.

Terms of the coaching contract were not available at press time.

According to Nordonia athletic director Rob Eckenrode, Huge was the only coach that applied for the position when it was posted internally. Rather than expand the search to coaches outside the district, Eckenrode said it made sense for the program to promote Huge.

"This late in the game, to try to conduct a wide search for a new coach would have set us back," Eckenrode said. "We have a quality candidate here who applied. To have someone who's been here for year as a coach is a good thing. That continuity is a key to maintaining our program."

Eckenrode noted that Huge was one of the final candidates for the position when Hall was hired in March 2007. Hall resigned his position April 10 to take over as head football coach and assistant athletic director at Massillon Washington High School.

Huge, 40, said that he knew he wanted the job as soon as he heard Hall was moving to Massillon.

"This was a sign I needed to apply for the position," Huge said. "I'm a longtime Nordonia guy and this is the my only destination."

A Nordonia High School graduate and a 1988 graduate of Hillsdale College in Michigan, Huge said Nordonia was one of his first opportunities when he picked up his teaching certificate. He joined Nordonia as a teacher and defensive line coach in 1997.

Huge said the Nordonia coaching staff will remain relatively intact from last season, noting only coach Mike Sombrio, a North Canton native, was following Hall to Massillon.

"There's been very, very little disruption," Huge said.

Huge said he will still be in charge of the Nordonia defense, which will remain in the basic 4-3 formation, while he had yet to choose an offensive coordinator.

"My basic philosophy on defense will not change," Huge said. "My big thing with the players is to teach them how to tackle and put them in the right place to make plays. Nordonia football players don't change."

Nordonia junior John Hamilton, who was at Huge's introduction, said the team is very happy to see that Huge is being promoted. Hamilton said Huge puts much emphasis on the classroom.

"Off the field, he talks to us about grades a lot," Hamilton said. "After that, he talks about football. He always says that grades come first."

"If you want to play for us, nothing is going to be given to you," Huge said. "You better put some commitment into it."

Nordonia High School principal Chuck Vrabel said he believes Huge will continue Nordonia's tradition of excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

"He brings a lot of enthusiasm to our program," Vrabel said.

E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com

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