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Warren football hires Matt Kimes as head coach

RON JOHNSTON The Marietta Times Matt Kimes, pictured here speaking Tuesday at Warren High School, was named the Warriors’ new head football coach.

VINCENT — Matt Kimes knows a thing or two about winning.

And that should be beneficial to the Warren High football program in the fall.

The 39-year-old Kimes was introduced to the players, parents and school staff as the Warriors’ new head football coach in a Tuesday 3 p.m. afternoon press conference in the WHS cafeteria.

“I couldn’t be more excited and thankful for the opportunity to lead the Warren Warrior football program,” Kimes said. “Since I began coaching over 15 years ago, it has been my goal to become a head coach and I feel that I am ready to make it a reality.

“We will continue to focus on not only building a program but building a culture that the entire community will be proud of and team that will contend in southeastern Ohio.”

Kimes is succeeding Dan Day, who accepted the head coaching position at Seton Hill University, his alma mater, late last year. He will also assume the duties of Assistant Athletic Director with specific responsibilities for managing facilities and external operations at Warren.

Kimes will become Warren’s 22nd head football coach in the program’s 59-year history and the 11th one at the helm since the turn of the century.

This will also mark Kimes’ first head coaching position and it will be with a Warrior program that posted a 2-8 overall record last season. WHS has not enjoyed a winning season on the gridiron since 2009 when it went 7-3.

Next season, Kimes is expected to have a nice nucleus of players to work with in quarterback Brandon Simoniette, quarterback Kurt Taylor, running back John Shoup, wide receiver Brett Gandee and wide receiver Evan Gandee to name but a few,

“I can’t wait to meet my team and get started with the process,” Kimes said. “My wife and I are so excited for our family to become engrained in Warrior Nation.”

Kimes and wife Kristen have three children — 10-year-old daughter Kendall, 8-year-old son Karsen, and 6-year-old daughter Kaytyn.

“In Coach Kimes, Warren is getting a family man, a passionate coach, and a proven winner throughout his career,” said Warren Athletic Director Steve Harold. “He brings a strong knowledge of the game, strong communication and relational skills, and a winning attitude.”

An all-around athlete at Parkersburg High, Kimes starred in football, basketball, and baseball from 1995-97. Over the past 14 seasons, he was a PHS and Parkersburg South assistant. For the past six seasons, he was a South assistant and offensive coordinator under the tutelage of Mike Eddy. Last fall, the Patriots clinched a playoff berth as a Class AAA six seed.

“His experiences at both PHS and South under some great mentors have prepared him for this opportunity (Warren head coaching position),” Harold said. “We are excited with his decision to join us. I could not be happier for our staff, our football players, their families and the fans of Warrior Nation.”

Kimes will become the third Parkersburg Big Reds standout to coach a varsity sport at Warren. Amy Colgrove currently coaches the WHS girls’ basketball team, and Andrew Johnson guided the Warrior boys’ soccer team a few years ago.

This Saturday, a meet and greet is scheduled at Warren prior to the basketball games, and Kimes’ formal introduction to Warrior Nation is slated later that evening during halftime of the WHS-Logan boys’ basketball game.

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