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Nordonia’s Rob Eckenrode will get his just recognition when the Northeast Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Association names him its Athletic Director of the Year on Monday.

MACEDONIA, Ohio – Willoughby South offensive coordinator Jeff Fox will be recommended as the new head football coach at Nordonia, according to Knights’ athletic director Rob Eckenrode.

Fox, 29, is expected to be approved at the Feb. 13 board meeting of the Nordonia Hills City School District and will succeed four-year coach Al Huge.

“I’m really proud that’s he going to be our next football coach,” Eckenrode said.  “This was an incredibly rigorous process and the most satisfying hiring process since I’ve been athletic director.

“We were extremely thorough and Jeff Fox just emerged. Everybody was unanimous. We are extremely impressed with the young man.”

Sixty applicants were under consideration from the time Nordonia posted the position.

Under head coach Matt Duffy, the Willoughby South Rebels and Fox have fashioned one the top offensive units in Northeast Ohio over the last seven years, qualifying for the state playoffs four times.

In 2011, South running back Kareem Hunt carried 41 times for 485 yards and six touchdowns in a 45-26 win over Eastlake North.

In 2010, South senior Ray Russ became the fifth All-Ohio quarterback to play for the Rebels in the last 10 years.  Russ threw for nearly 3,000 yards and a Lake County record 43 touchdowns against five interceptions (11 games).

The offensive statistics coming out of Willoughby South in recent years are mind boggling and Fox has been the coordinator.

“I’ve been doing this for 12 years and I’d like to think I can spot an up-and-comer,” Eckenrode said. “Jeff is mature beyond his years.

“He is the total package. He’s energetic. He’s enthusiastic.”

The intention is for Fox, an honors mathematics teacher, to eventually join the Nordonia faculty.

Fox played his college football at Baldwin-Wallace.