Highland's Jones steps down after two seasons

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Matt Jones (center) has resigned after two seasons as head football coach at Highland High School. | Michael Rich/News

SPARTA – The Highland football team is looking for a new coach after Matt Jones’ resignation last month.

Jones, who went 8-11 over two seasons as head coach, has been with the Fighting Scots since 2005.

“It was my choice,” he said. “I need to commit my time to my family. I’m getting to that point where I’m missing out on a lot over the years. I just got to the point where if I’m not willing to sacrifice, I can’t ask the kids to sacrifice. I just want to spend time with my family and I’m excited.”

Jones’ two kids are both involved in fall sports — Mallory was a member of the Highland girls golf team, and Molly is in the fifth grade and plays soccer.

He took over for Chad Carpenter, who retired after the 2018 season after amassing a 113-66 record in 17 years at the helm. Both came to Highland after serving as head coach at Mapleton.

“He replaced Coach Carpenter and did a really solid job for us the last two years,” Highland Athletic Director Mike DeLaney said. “I was very happy with him in terms of the way he treated the kids and the relationships he built with our kids.”

The Scots went 4-5 overall last year, which included a 50-33 win at 16th-seeded Warsaw River View in the first round of the Division IV, Region 15 playoffs as the 17th seed in the region. They fell 47-30 at top-seeded St. Clairsville in the second round.

Jones was a part of the program for nine of Highland’s 10 state playoff appearances and was an assistant on six league championship teams.

Now DeLaney turns his attention to finding a new coach.

“We’re looking for somebody who’s going to bring excitement to the program,” he said. “It’s not all about scheme. I want somebody to embrace the community of Highland. I want somebody who wants to be here — who wants to put down roots and somebody who’s going to invest in the total program all the way from youth through the high school (program).”

DeLaney is looking for the same qualities that he’s had in Jones and Carpenter over the last two decades.

“Our big thing at Highland is making sure that we’re taking care of the kids and building relationships with those kids,” DeLaney said. “I believe that wins and losses will take care of themselves … when we find a coach that builds those relationships and shows that he really cares about the kids and our community.”

Applications for a new head began on Dec. 14, 2020, and will be accepted through Friday, Jan. 8. Screener interviews will be conducted from Dec. 30 through Jan. 15, with the hiring committee conducting interviews on Jan. 18.

DeLaney hopes to have a new coach in place by the Feb. 10 school board meeting.

The next coach will likely be around as the football team transitions back to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference before the 2022 season. The Scots will play one final season in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference next year.

“We have some unbelievable kids,” Jones said. “The decision was extremely hard because I truly love those guys. The kids that we have coming back and the kids in the younger programs — there’s a ton of talent. The program is going to be taking off here for sure.”

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