The 2021 high school football season begins on Friday with four of the five area teams in action.
There is one local school with a new head coach.
Nate Snedeker takes over the Jonathan Alder gridiron program after serving as an assistant coach at Pickerington North High School.
Snedeker is stepping into very big shoes as he replaces Brett Glass.
Glass guided the Alder program to winning records during each of his seasons.
The Pioneers, I believe, only missed the state playoffs twice during his tenure.
Glass is now the head coach of Dublin Jerome, which is an Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division rival to Marysville.
I have been impressed during the times I’ve talked with Snedeker during the preseason.
He brings a wealth of football knowledge and was a part of winning teams at Pickerington North.
There is always a breaking-in period whenever a new coach is hired.
It takes time for the coach to get to know his players and vice versa.
Snedeker, however, appears to have hit the ground running.
There seems to be good chemistry within the program between the returning players and the new coach.
What helps is the fact Snedeker’s coaching staff is comprised of folks who served for many years on Glass’ JA staffs.
That will assist with some continuity as a slightly new system is established.
It also helps that Snedeker is stepping into a proven program.
Jonathan Alder football has been one of the most successful in central Ohio for many, many years.
The Pioneers have won several conference championships.
They’ve had only two losing seasons since 2001, if memory serves me correctly, and have missed the state playoffs only four times during that span.
Alder does have to replace a couple of graduated All-Ohio athletes in quarterback JT Keith and receiver Jackson Izzard.
That won’t be easy, but it seems as though the Pioneers – at least in the past 20 years – never rebuild.
They reload.
A new coach and quarterback this year will make things interesting.
Let’s hope the Pioneers fire on all cylinders this fall.