Tuesday, June 2, 2009

VASJ hires new football coach!

The VASJ Vikings are now staffed and ready to take the field this fall with the hire of John Storey as head coach. John Storey is returning to his glory on the sidelines.

Please enjoy the following press release from VASJ (and see you this Saturday at the Alive on E185 Parade):

John Storey is returning as Head Football Coach at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School. A VASJ Hall of Fame inductee, he takes over the program immediately. Storey, an alumnus of St. Joseph High School, one of VASJ’s predecessor schools, succeeds Matt Melle, who helmed the Vikings for the 2007 and 2008 football seasons.

“In collaboration with a search committee comprised of VASJ coaches, parents and staff members who interviewed numerous candidates, the athletic department and administration decided that John is the ideal choice to lead our football team as VASJ builds into a 21st Century model of Catholic education,” said VASJ President Brian Menard. “Beyond his legendary status in the Viking Village, John brings years of mature coaching experience on the high school and college levels to the position. His recent loyalty to the players and the school upon the departure of our previous head coach, along with his quiet passion, adherence to the Marianist and Ursuline traditions and belief in the ‘student-athlete’ concept of coaching and teaching, has proven that John’s goals are harmonious with VASJ’s mission of high academic achievement and developing student gifts.”

John Storey is no stranger to being employed in the Viking Village. Since 2007, he has served as a special assistant for admissions and alumni development, in addition to duties as an assistant coach for the football and wrestling teams. His former positions include: head football coach, athletic director and head wrestling coach. He also taught health and physical education for many years and was an assistant football coach (defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, offensive line coach) under Bill Gutbrod for many years.

Two highlights of Storey’s coaching career with the Vikings was leading the 1990 wrestling team to the Division I State Championship, a year in which he was also named the Division I Ohio Coach of the Year. Another highlight was his service as defensive coordinator for the 1989 Football State Championship team. Furthermore, over his 25-plus years of coaching wrestling, Storey guided eleven wrestling standouts to individual state championships.

Prior to his rejoining VASJ in June 2007, Storey was an assistant football coach and admissions assistant for St. Edward High School from 2004 to May 2007. Preceding his time at St. Ed’s, he was employed at John Carroll University from 1994 to 2004. There, he served in a variety of capacities, including: football operations, football recruiting coordinator and as an assistant football (defensive coordinator, linebacker coach, defensive end coach) and assistant track coach. He has a B.S. in health and physical education from the University of Dayton.

“To meet the challenges of the upcoming season, I look forward to the commitment of the Viking community to continue our rich traditions of academic and athletic excellence,” Storey said. “Hail red and blue!”

In affirming Storey’s selection, Athletic Director Nancy Naujoks said, “We are truly blessed to have someone of Coach Storey’s experience here on our staff so willing and able to provide leadership and inspiration to our players. We had a wonderful group of nearly two dozen coaches who interviewed for the position, but in the end, Coach Storey’s dedication and commitment to VASJ made him the successful candidate and a perfect fit as we move our program ahead.”

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