Willard hires Matula

Mark Matula doesn't have to go far to discuss everything that goes along with coaching football.

Matula, who was officially introduced as the 26th head coach in the history of Willard football Monday, has been a teacher at Willard High School for the past six years. He becomes the fourth head coach currently teaching in the district, joining Jason Ratliff (Buckeye Central), Chris Hawkins (Galion) and Todd Fox (Tiffin Calvert).

Ratliff just took the Bucks to the Division VI state championship game last weekend while Fox had Calvert in the second round of the playoffs. Hawkins has been to the playoffs five times as a head coach and led Galion to an 8-2 mark this season, narrowly missing the Division IV playoffs.

"I talk a lot with Jason, he's right across the hall," Matula said. "We have talked about everything that comes along with being a head coach. Those guys are invaluable resources. Todd and Chris teach in different buildings, so other than a few teachers meetings I don't see them a lot. "

"But Jason and I do a lot of talking, and I've already begun to pick his brain as to building a program and what's important and the kinds of things he does. I will search out those guys to do the best I can to not only be myself, but also just to have the opportunity to talk to good coaches who have done well with their programs."

Matula has spend 23 of the past 25 seasons coaching in some capacity within the Edison football program. He spent two years as the Willard defensive coordinator in 2005 and 2006 when he was first hired at the school. The previous five seasons the 1981 Bucyrus graduate has been a member of Jim Hall's staff at Edison.

For more information on this story, see Tuesday's Sandusky Register.