By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Buckeye Central Board of Education took just 10 days to find a replacement for former varsity football head coach Jason Ratliff. Thursday board members approved former BC and University of Buffalo lineman Jeffery Niedermier to lead the program.
“I was excited. You know it was something we kind of talked about once we found out Jason (Ratliff) was going to resign who kind of was willing to stand up and take the position,” Niedermier said. “Being a head coach is something I always wanted to do. I wasn’t quite sure it was going to happen this fast, but it did. I just jumped on the opportunity so I am excited to do these things for the football team.”
Niedermier, whose previous head coaching experience was for Willard wrestling in 2010-2011, will approach the coaching position philosophically the same
“Wrestling is obviously a completely different sport, but the things we want to instill,” Niedermier said. “And the purpose of the High School Athletics is help build the young men, and get them the experience, not just with the winning and losing, but help them grow and mature and take responsibility on what they are doing, so those aspects are the same.”
As for style Niedermier is more offensive minded.
”This year I’m going to kind of take a back seat role. I’m going to let Coach Oswalt keep doing the defense like he has been doing. I mean, he has been doing defense since I played here in 2001 I think he was the defensive coordinator,” Nidermier said. “We are also going to have Chad Jenson. He is basically going to be basically the offensive coordinator this year. I’m going to learn from him on play calling. I know a lot with scheming with running and blocking and those sorts of things, because I was an offensive lineman.”
Niedermier continued, “There is still a lot I want to learn, so we are going to have him be the offensive coordinator, but I am going focus more on the offensive side than the defensive side for sure.”
Former coach Jason Ratliff leaves the Bucks after coaching for four seasons from 2008-2012, leading them to the Division VI State Championship in 2011 where they lost to Marion Local 66-21.
This will be Niedermeir’s first year as head coach for football. Neidermier played football at Buckeye Central before he went on to be a standout right guard at the University of Bufflao, and the Alabama Vipers in the Arena Football League.
Treasurer Nancy Ackerman delivered good news to the board Thursday evening. During her monthly report, Ackerman revealed that the 2012-2013 school year finished with $174,000 which will carry over into the new school year.
The Buckeye Central Board of Education also approved increasing lunch prices for the 2013-2014 school year. The prices which will reflect serving sizes were raised due to a drop in lunch purchases in 2012-2013.
Thad Metzger’s position as Cross Country coach was up for vote again Thursday night. Due to only receiving two votes at the last meeting a revote was given, this time the board voted 3 -1 with Council President Susan Shealy abstaining from voting.