The NKyTribune will be offering focused coverage of NKY high school football throughout the season, thanks to support from St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine. See all our pre-season features on each of NKY’s 21 high school football teams and follow our coverage, including roundups each week at Northern Kentucky High School Football.
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
If you think you’ve had a hectic summer, take a look at what Tim Viox had on his things-to-do list.
After being officially hired as Newport’s head football coach three weeks ago, Viox had to schedule a team meeting, put together a coaching staff, organize pre-season practice sessions, assign positions and teach the players new offensive and defensive formations.
Newport coach Tim Viox makes a point during practice. (Terry Boehmker photo)
“We’ve still got a ways to go,” he said. “We’ve got our base plays down and a couple of defensive fronts, but not a lot of (players) did much after the old coach left so they’re not in the best shape. It’s up to us to get them there in the next two weeks.”
Viox knew he would have a busy schedule when he was hired on July 17 to replace Matthew Schmitz, head coach of the Wildcats the last two seasons. School officials did not renew Schmitz’s contract after he was arrested in May for marijuana possession, public intoxication and resisting arrest.
It was a difficult situation to step into, but Viox wanted the job. He enjoys coaching football and knows the positive impact the sport can have on young lives after spending more than 20 years as a high school teacher and coach in Ohio.
Viox, 54, started his head coaching career at Maderia in 1997 and compiled a 37-24 record in six seasons. He was also head football coach at Northwest (2003-05) and Fairfield (2006-07).
He was an assistant principal and freshman football coach at Fairfield the last six years before he retired on June 1. A few weeks later, he was named head football coach at Newport.
“I’d been circulating my name around because I wanted to get back into (coaching),” Viox said. “I love doing it and I’m not nearly ready to stay retired.”
The new coach has made a good impression on the players returning from last year’s Newport team that made it to the third round of the Class 2A playoffs and finished with an 8-5 record. He meets with seniors on the current roster each week to get their feedback on what’s going right and what needs to be worked on for the Wildcats to be successful once again this season.
“At first, we didn’t know what to expect, but he’s really organized and knows what to do,” senior lineman Dee Joseph said of the new coach. “We’re all adapting to the changes because we really want to make something happen and do something special.”
After accessing the size and talent he has on the current roster, Viox decided to go with a triple-option offensive attack. Ryan Ochoa, the team’s leading pass receiver last season, has been moved to quarterback. The other veteran in the backfield will be senior Tyree Bolden, who rushed for more than 700 yards in 2014.
“It’s been going great, a lot better than I expected,” Bolden said of learning the new offense. “Some of the plays are hard (to remember), but we’re all starting to get the hang of it. With the new formations and the new plays, it’s just like a whole new beginning for us.”
Viox will see how well the Wildcats run the triple-option in a pre-season scrimmage game against Dixie Heights next week. They’ll also be testing out a new 4-3 defensive formation. After that, the coaching staff will have one week to tinker with everything before Viox makes his debut as Newport’s head coach in a season-opening game at Ludlow on Aug. 21.
“It’s going to be fun,” he said of the upcoming season. “I love the game and, more importantly, I just love to see the progress of kids at this level, and in this situation.”
NEWPORT WILDCATS
COACH: Tim Viox (11 seasons at three high schools in Ohio).
2014 SEASON: 8-5 record, lost in third round of Class 2A playoffs.
THIS SEASON: Class 2A, District 6 with Holy Cross, Lloyd, Newport Central Catholic.
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 – at Ludlow, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 – SCOTT, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 – BELLEVUE, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 – at Owen County, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 – at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 – at Lloyd, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – at Holy Cross, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 – NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 – HOLMES, 7 p.m.
See these NKyTribune prep football reviews:
Bishop Brossart High School
Ludlow High School
Campbell County High School
Highlands High School
Dixie Heights
Bellevue
