New Coaches At All Five MVC Scarlet Schools

The Miami Valley Conference Scarlet Division will see all five of its members with new head coaches trolling the sidelines. Four of those coaches take the reins for the first time. League juggernaut CHCA hired Mark Mueller to replace the very successful Eric Taylor. Mueller was no slouch in his first go around as a front man leading New Albany to a 69-24 mark during an eight year tenure. He is the only newcomer to be a head coach. It isn’t the first rodeo for the others who all rock solid credentials as assistants.

CHCA RB/LB Ben Collado (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

All of these of these MVC Scarlet programs have had success over the last ten years. Since 2008 teams in this division have combined for 21 playoff appearances under men who shaped the conference into what it has become today. With new faces and electricity in the air at all these schools it will be interesting to see which players get energized and buy into what their new leaders are preaching. It is sure to be an exciting, emotion packed season.

Here is a look at this year’s MVC Scarlet Division:

CHCA EAGLES
Division V, Region 20
2015 Record: 10-2, overall, 4-0 MVC Scarlet
Head Coach: Mark Mueller (0-0 at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, first year; 69-24 overall, eight years)
Playoff History: (11 appearances, 13-11 overall) – 2015, 2014 (State semifinalist), 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2005 (State runner-up), 2003, 2002

The road to Columbus still runs through Coldwater in Division V, Region 20 no matter who is running the show for CHCA. New front man Mark Mueller comes with some pretty impressive credentials during an eight year stint as the head coach at New Albany. He was an assistant last season for the Eagles after moving back to his native Cincinnati. Mueller inherits a team with a massive upside.

Despite losing the Southwest District Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in 2015, CHCA is still loaded with talent. The tone is set on both sides of the ball by senior OL/DL Nick Noyen. The leader of the Eagles was a First Team All-Ohio selection as an offensive lineman a year ago. Noyen is just as worthy of that honor on defense. Classmate FB/LB Kesean Gamble became eligible in Week 6 last fall and immediately made an impact. He finished with 557 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing and was an absolute menace at linebacker. Gamble and RB/LB Ben Collado earned Second Team All-Southwest District accolades for their work. Collado has 224 tackles at the varsity level. He will also play a prominent role on offense.

Look for a defense that allowed 17.4 points per contest during the regular season in ’15 and gave up 71 in two playoff games be even better. Joining Gamble and Collado in the middle of the field is Second Team All-MVC Scarlet member WR/LB Brady Pfister. Two-time First Team All-MVC Scarlet honoree WR/DB Adam Baker has 67 career receptions for 1,442 yards, nine touchdown catches, 1,991 all-purpose yards and five interceptions during his career. Baker is a game changer in all three phases of the game. Also in that secondary is WR/DB Kyle Renners a Second Team All-MVC Scarlet selection as a junior.

Waiting patiently in the wings for his time to arrive, junior QB Danny Vanatsky is ready to step in under center. Don’t be surprised if Vanatsky equals the same heights as his predecessor Johnny Noyen. He is being pushed by classmate QB Blake Sheffer. Their class also includes ’15 First Team All-MVC Scarlet member OL Ryan Wichmann and Second Team All-MVC Scarlet selection WR/DB Kris Carnes. Wichmann and Nick Noyen both tip the scales at 280 pounds. Sophomore RB/DB Alex Barnard could be one of the most pleasant surprises in the MVC this fall.

CINCINNATI COUNTRY DAY INDIANS
Division VI, Region 24
2015 Record: 9-2, 3-1
Head Coach: Greg Ross (0-0 at Cincinnati Country Day, first year; 0-0 overall)
Playoff History: (14 appearances, 6-14 overall) – 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2004, 2002, 1999, 1995 (State semifinalist), 1994, 1991 (State semifinalist), 1990, 1989, 1987, 1986

Over the past three regular seasons Cincinnati Country Day has gone a combined 29-1. The Indians made the playoffs in all of those years only to fall in the first round each year by an average of 21 points. The players in the program understand how to win they just don’t have that much Friday night lights, on field experience.

Practice and the way things are run shouldn’t change under first year head coach Greg Ross who has been the team’s top assistant for the last 15 years under his predecessor Tim Dunn. He is also Cincinnati Country Day’s head basketball coach and assistant athletic director. “I am excited for the season as my first year as head coach. People say I am nuts because I am also the boys basketball coach. I love it though,” an enthusiastic Ross states.

First Team All-MVC Scarlet selection WR/DE Myles Jackson is a great foundation to build around. The 6-foot-4, 220 pound senior is one of the league’s best players on offense and defense. Five interceptions as a junior helped earn WR/DB Cameron Davis earn Second Team All-MVC Scarlet accolades. He teams up with DB Will Brooks to make the Indians secondary one of the squad’s strong suits.

Beyond that trio CCD has a lot of positions to fill with “green” players. “I was very encouraged with the effort we had in our scrimmage versus Mariemont and Williamsburg, two perennial tough teams. We need a lot guys to step up as we lost a lot of talented seniors,” Ross says.

NORTH COLLEGE HILL TROJANS
Division V, Region 20
2015 Record: 4-6, 2-2
Head Coach: Derek Wiggins (0-0 at North College Hill, first year; 0-0 overall)
Playoff History: (six appearances, 2-6) – 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2001

Getting through last season was tough with the passing of former Head Coach and alum Bruce Baarendse. After an 0-4 start North College Hill bounced back winning four of its last six. The Trojans will ride that modest wave of success into 2016. With the batteries recharged NCH is ready to turn the corner under new head coach Derek Wiggins.

North College Hill ATH Franklin Steward (Photo by David Long/TriStateFootball.com)

The Trojans are experienced and proven at the skill positions with seniors OLB AJ Hammonds, FB/SS Adrian Ward and ATH Franklin Steward leading the way. All have lettered since they were freshmen. Hammonds was a Fist Team All-Southwest District selection a year ago. He has 266 total tackles, 30 sacks and five fumble recoveries during his career. Ward and Steward were named First Team All-MVC Scarlet in ’15. Almost as accomplished as Hammonds, Ward has 246 total tackles, 15 sacks and five fumble recoveries at the varsity level. Steward has been a factor in all phases of the game with 1,640 passing yards, 1,798 rushing yards, 1,931 all-purpose yards 14 passing touchdowns, 17 rushing scores, one kickoff return touchdown and three interceptions in a North College Hill uniform.

The junior class isn’t lacking for an identity with QB/S JT Montgomery, WR/CB Lorenzo Sparks and OL/DL Kameron Hughes. Montgomery and Sparks garnered Second Team All-MVC Scarlet accolades in ’15. Hughes was an Honorable Mention all-league pick. The trio adds great depth and leadership to a rock solid offense. They could also be poised for breakout seasons on offense.
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CLARK MONTESSORI COUGARS
Division V, Region 20
2015 Record: 5-5, 1-3
Head Coach: Greg Pickett (0-0 at Clark Montessori, first year; 0-0 overall)
Playoff History: (no appearances, 0-0 overall)

By the time September had ended last season Clark Montessori had three losses by one, one and two points (all to teams they should have beaten). If they win two of those games the Cougars would have been in the playoffs. Coach Pickett will have to figure out how to replace some very productive and dependable players from that squad. Almost every skill position player graduated. Competition should be fierce for those spots.

The front seven on defense and the offensive line are filled with experience and honors. Returning is First Team All-MVC Scarlet selection OL/DL Shannon Jackson, Second Team All-MVC Scarlet members OL/OLB Eric Prather, TE/DE Ray Kellum, OL/DL Cameron Clameise and Honorable Mention All-MVC Scarlet OL/DL Gary Bryant. That’s is a good foundation for Pickett’s fence.

SUMMIT COUNTRY DAY SILVER KINIGHTS
Division VI, Region 24
2015 Record: 4-6, 0-4
Head Coach: Justin Isaacs (0-0 at Summit Country Day, first year; 0-0 overall)
Playoff History: (eight appearances, 2-8) – 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2000, 1996, 1985

A healthy Summit Country Day squad should be more in tune this season. A fourth playoff berth in the last five years and first under new head coach Justin Isaacs is very realistic. There is no reason this Silver Knights team can’t get to the postseason. They have top-level talent capable of doing damage in November.

Much like CCD’s Ross, Isaacs has been a long-time football assistant and a basketball coach at his school. The only difference between the two is the weapons that Isaacs has in his arsenal to work with this fall. Those studs must close the deal this season. The Silver Knights lost four games by two, five, eight and ten points a year ago.

Rising star WR/LB Xavier Johnson is arguably one of the top Division VI players in Ohio. Going into his junior year Johnson has 45 receptions for 803 yards with eight touchdown catches. He was a First Team All-MVC Scarlet performer in ’15. Summit fans will enjoy watching Johnson catch passes from classmate QB/DB Zairn Davis the next two years. Davis threw for 1,326 yards, 11 touchdown tosses with only four interceptions and no fumbleslast fall.

Returning Second Team All-MVC Scarlet members from last season include WR/K/P Allen Waltz, DL Andrew Bissmeyer, RB/DB Joe Collins and OL/DL Michael Warden. Bissmeyer has 25.5 sacks over the past two campaigns. Waltz accounted for 77 of the teams 209 points (36.8%) in ’15 with four touchdowns, 10 of 14 field goals and 23 of 23 extra points.

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