Patriots welcome new head coach

In high school football, the coaching carrousel isn’t as active as it is in college or in the NFL, but it does go round and round.

That holds true for the North Vermilion Patriots football team, who welcome in new head football coach Richard Prejean.

“I really don’t know how I feel yet,” Prejean said. “I’m looking forward to it, and I know I have a lot of challenges ahead of me, but I know the kids so that helps.

“I know I’m a little wet behind the ears, but I’m ready to hit the ground running.”

This is one of the few times that the carrousel gets started for a positive reason.

Most of the time the reason a new head coach is announced is because the previous one was fired.

This time around, for the Patriots, the former head coach Tommy Byler had been promoted to the principal of North Vermilion.

“His (Prejean) loyalty and commitment are just some of his best qualities,” Principal Byler said. “Our careers parallel each other, and I was always that guy looking for a chance. Now, I get a chance to give someone a chance who deserves it, and
coach Prejean deserves it.”

Coach Prejean has been at North Vermilion for over 10 years.

He has been the defensive coordinator of the Patriots since 2002.

Along with all his duties as defensive coordinator, he is also the head softball coach and assistant wrestling coach.

Prejean becoming the head coach of the football team doesn’t actually go into effect until June 1.

Coach Prejean is a big family man and the support he has gotten from his wife and two kids is what pushed him to apply for the head coaching job.

“I talked to my wife and kids to hear what they thought about me being the head coach,” Prejean said. “They were okay with the decision for me to become the head coach. They know that it is going to be a big time commitment for me, but
overall they are excited for me to get rolling as head coach.”

Even now with football season still five or six months away, Prejean is already starting to try to get his staff lined up.

The one thing that should not be overstated is the fact the kids on the team are already familiar with Prejean.

“The kids are already comfortable with Prejean because of his work in the weight room,” Byler said. “His biggest obstacle will be everyone else outside of the kids. They will need to know that he has taken a step-up, and that he is now the head
football coach here at North Vermilion.”

Andy Bullard
Sports Editor