Colonels have a new boss

University of the Cumberlands Football Special Teams Coordinator Zeke Eier will be the next man to lead the Whitley County High School Football program.

Zeke Eier is the new head football coach at Whitley County High School.

Whitley County High School officials announced the hiring last Wednesday.

“Coach Eier brings a wealth of football knowledge and experience to our program, but more importantly his enthusiasm for the future of our program and tenacity to succeed will be contagious,” said Whitley County High School Principal Julie Osborne.

The Ohio native played football at the University of the Cumberlands.

The last six seasons, he has served as special teams coordinator and running backs coach under Head Coach Matt Rhymer.

“Zeke is a winner in all regards. One of the smartest and most disciplined people I’ve ever been around,” noted Rhymer.

“I grew up around the sport of football. My dad was a high school coach before he became an athletic director in Ohio. I was the water boy then ball boy starting at the age of four,” Eier said. I have been blessed with many great mentors that have taught me the right way to run a program and I felt like this is a culmination of a lifetime of experience and I am ready to put it to work.

The job at Whitley County became available after Coach Jep Irwin resigned to take the head coaching job at South Laurel High School.

“I love Whitley County. This is home to my wife and me,” Eier said when asked what led him to apply for the coaching vacancy. “Whitley County has so many great people in the community with awesome hard-working kids. I am a guy that appreciates hard work and earning everything you get and I feel like this community appreciates the same things.

Since the Colonels made the Class 5A state semi-finals in 2008, the furthest they have advanced in the state football playoffs has been the second round.

In Coach Irwin’s first year in 2019, Whitley County finished 8-4, losing to Southwestern in the second round of the playoffs. In 2020, the Colonels went 2-6, losing to Southwestern in the opening round of the playoffs.

While Eier has not seen his team on the field, except on film, he said he has seen them preparing for 2021.

“After having time watching some film, there is no denying that there are some talented kids,” Eier said of a team that will return senior quarterback Caden Petrey, junior receiver Bryson Potter, and senior linebacker Brian Leach among players that saw significant time in 2020

“What I like right now is seeing these guys bust their guts in the weight room,” Eier said. “We are going to keep working hard and pushing each day to get better and closer as a team.”

“Eier said his goals for Whitley County football are simple and straightforward.

“We are going to be a tough, hard-nosed, relentless team that plays hard for four quarters, Eier said. “We are going to be fundamentally sound and aggressive. We are going to play with passion and enthusiasm and give all we have every snap.”

Eier said that work ethic is a big part of what will push Whitley County football to greater heights.

“I feel like if everyone associated with Whitley County football buys in and empties the tank every day that we can build something special,” Eier said.

While new coaches at all levels talk about the new job being the dream job, until the dream job comes along, Eier said Whitley County is home to his family.

“I’m a firm believer in being where your feet are,” Eier said.

“I have a son who is one year old and my plan is for him to be a Colonel,” he said. “I feel like we can build something special here at Whitley County and there is nowhere else I’d rather be.”