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Nordonia Hills CIty School District has begun its search for a new football coach after three consecutive 2-8 seasons.

MACEDONIA, Ohio – Nordonia athletic director Rob Eckenrode has been a model of success since he joined the school system six years ago.

Now, the highly regarded AD is looking for the same out of his football program.

In 2008, the Knights went 7-4 en route to a first-round playoff loss to Brunswick, but have gone 6-24 since then.

That brought about the reassignment of four-year head coach Al Huge on the coaching staff.

Eckenrode’s decision will likely bring an abundance of applicants as Boliantz Stadium, Suburban League membership, two alumni playing in the NFL – Rob Simms in Detroit and Jason Trusnik in Miami – and a storied history make Nordonia an attractive place to coach.

“No. 1, I want someone who is good with kids that will bring some life and energy to the program and someone that will work with the rest of the coaches,” Eckenrode said.

The Knights have won two dozen conference championships in Eckenrode's six years and one in 15 years prior to his arrival.

“I need a coach that is willing to work with those other programs that are successful and get our program to where it should be,” he said.

As for Huge’s ouster, the move didn’t come with ill will or animosity. The defensive coordinator for Nordonia when the Knights finished as Division II state runners-up in 2002, Huge has been with the team in some capacity since 1997.

But after three consecutive 2-8 seasons, the need to look elsewhere became paramount.

“It was time,” Eckenrode said. “We needed to move in a new direction. I have a great deal of respect for Al and everything he’s done here at Nordonia.”

The next step is to take applicants. Sources say a former successful Northeast Ohio Conference coach has put his hat into the ring, but Eckenrode expects more than the dozen he has received to date. The position closes on Dec. 30.

After that, Nordonia will put a committee in place to trim the list of potential coaches.

“We’re taking applications – both internal and external – and will do a paper screen after that,” Eckenrode said. “We’ll have a committee in place and hopefully have a coach by the end of January.”

As per school policy, Eckenrode declined to talk about potential applicants.