ROGERS-The Beaver Local Board of Education unanimously approved the selection of Jeremy McElroy as the new head football coach at Beaver Local High School during a special meeting Wednesday evening at the school.
"I want to build off what Coach Wright established here and the success he's had," McElroy said. He emphasized a desire to focus more on the process rather than results at the outset, which he believes will improve that process over time and, in the end, yield better results.
McElroy served under departing head coach Richard Wright last season as offensive line coach. Prior to his arrival at BLHS, he was head coach at David Anderson High School in Lisbon from 2008 through 2010, with an overall record of 1 and 29.
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Jeremy McElroy was named the new head football coach at Beaver Local High School at a special meeting of the Beaver Local Board of Education on Wednesday evening. (Photo by Richard Sberna)
The 34-year-old coach is an East Palestine native and teaches fifth-grade language arts and social studies at McKinley Elementary School in Lisbon, a position he will retain this coming school year.
McElroy has been an assistant coach at Kettering Fairmont, Piqua and East Palestine high schools, along with assistant coaching experience on the college level at the California University of Pennsylvania. He was also student assistant offensive line coach in 2000 at Mount Union, when the college won the NCAA Division III National Championship. He played defensive end during Mount Union's streak of consecutive national championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
McElroy said he's encouraged by the toughness and work ethic he's witnessed amongst the players at Beaver Local. "They're good kids and they're willing to work hard," he said. "There's a mentality here that I love, and I'm excited about working with them."
Brian McKenzie, president of the BL Board of Education, said it was a difficult decision between the final candidates for the job, but that he was impressed with McElroy's energy and enthusiasm. McKenzie admitted that the 14-year career of former coach Richard Wright, which included six trips to the state playoffs, will be a tough act to follow. However, McKenzie expressed his confidence in McElroy's ability to get the job done. "I think that Mr. McElroy will be able to step into those large shoes and continue to lead us down the path," he said.
McElroy was also generous in his praise of Wright and expressed his thanks for the opportunity that led to his appointment. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here today," he said.
