Football candidate is selected

The Patriots are turning to one of their own to lead their football program.

Sources have comfirmed that Steve Boozier, a 1985 graduate of Jay County High School, will be recommended to the Jay School Board to become the school's next football coach. The board will vote on that recommendation at its regular school board meeting Jan. 25.

Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long confirmed that a coach would be recommended at the Jan. 25 meeting. He declined to identify who would be recommended, but noted that he felt there was "a tremendous group of applicants."

Boozier, JCHS principal Phil Ford and athletics director Ted Habegger all declined to comment until after the school board officially hires a coach.

Currently the athletics director at Wes-Del High School, Boozier brings with him nearly 20 years of experience as a head football coach. He led the Blackford program from 2000 to 2007, and also coached at Northfield and Tri-County North (Ohio).

He was the freshman coach at Jay County in 1987, and has also coached softball, girls basketball and track as a head or assistant coach.

During his nine seasons at Blackford, Boozier went 45-39 and led the Bruins to a sectional title in 2003. His teams finished .500 or better in six of his eight seasons and had a 5-3 record against Jay County.

Boozier is slated to replace Shane Hill, who went 39-48 in eight seasons at JCHS with a sectional title in 2007. He went 2-8 this season.

Jay Schools accepted applications for the head coaching position for more than a month before holding interviews last week.[[In-content Ad]]