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| Tiger's Head Coach Andy Schob |
It didn't take long for Andy Schob to put his own stamp on the 2008 Marietta Tigers.
Schob, the offensive coordinator under former MHS head football coach Brian Spicer, intends to keep some aspects of the spread offense with senior quarterback Cody Westbrook under center - the high-percentage completions - emphasizing short passes while mixing in effective running plays out of a wing-T set.
The objective is "to keep the chains moving," said assistant coach Vince Elder, who also will be involved in working with the running backs and assisting Schob with the offense.
"We probably won't be throwing as much as we did when Brian was here," said Elder, whose resume includes head coaching experience at St. Marys and Frontier High School, his alma mater.
The last time Elder worked with Marietta's football program it was as an assistant with former head coach Tim Hale, who was Spicer's predecessor.
Schob was busy Tuesday with the third day of summer camp in the morning and traveling to Woodsfield for a passing scrimmage with Monroe Central in the evening.
In building his coaching staff, Schob wanted people that shared his philosophy.
"First of all, I want to surround myself with good people, obviously," Schob said. "We all want to create a positive environment where we're all working together and being positive with the kids and working hard. We want to lead by example with how we work hard. Our expectations are all high.
"It's nothing different," Schob said. "I just wanted some people that were really energetic ... People that were really go-getters and positive people that the kids would follow and find to be good role models for them. I think every single person on our staff is a go-getter and the kids are responding to them very well."
Ben Schenkel, an associate head coach under Spicer last season, returns as the wide receivers and defensive backs coach.
Schob's son, Jason, also is a staff holdover and will coach quarterbacks and defensive backs.
Marietta's defense undoubtedly is where the Tigers need to make the most improvement, given that the 2007 campaign ended with five straight losses, including a 76-20 road loss to Logan and a 70-34 setback at Chillicothe. The average point margin in Marietta's last five games was -40.6.
Darren Stevens takes on the defensive coordinator's title and is favoring a 4-4 set and not just for sentimental reasons.
"Last year, they ran a little bit of everything, including a 3-5 and a 4-3," Stevens said.
"The 4-4 is the same defense we ran during our playoff year (2002)," said Stevens. "So we're confident with it."
Stevens, a Fort Frye graduate, had been an assistant coach under Hale and Spicer.
Glen Dawson, a Bellaire High School product, is aboard as Marietta's junior varsity coach and will also assist with the defensive line, receivers and special teams.
Another key pickup is linebackers coach Tom Zakowski, a former standout at West Virginia University in the early 1970s under Bobby Bowden, as a volunteer assistant. Zakowski logged 168 tackles in three seasons with the Mountaineers and had a total of six interceptions.
Marietta's freshmen football squad is in the hands of Chuck Lucas Sr., and his son, Chuck Lucas, Jr. The elder Lucas also has previous assistant coaching experience at Marietta under former Tiger boss Steve Sayre. He will assist the varsity as an offensive line-defensive line coach.
Chuck Lucas Jr. will help with the linebackers as well.
Stevens noted that Marietta's strength and conditioning program is being overseen by Jeff Smith, Marc Warden, Geoff Schenkel and Chad Lincoln.
The Tigers participated in a 12-team passing scrimmage at Nelsonville last Saturday.
Once practice begins in earnest in full pads, the Tigers will have a series of full scrimmages at Don Drumm Field vs. Bellaire at 6 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 9; vs. Canal Winchester at 7 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 15; and finally at 6 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 22, against Morgan.
This leads up to the Tigers' season opener at Hilliard Darby, a traditional central Ohio Division I power.
The Schob family has more pressing business at hand this coming Saturday with Jason Schob entering into the bonds of matrimony with Brittany Thomas. "She understands the football commitment, too," Andy Schob said. "She's a super person and they'll be a good fit for each other. I'm very happy for them."
Story from The Marietta Times 7-17-2008.