Former Knight moving out of the third base coaching box, onto the sidelines at C.O.W.
By Bill Houston
August 15, 2011
790
Ive traded 12-year-old baseball kids for college-aged football men, said former Holmes County Knighthawks 12-and-under (12U) baseball coach, and former West Holmes football standout, Jamie Horn, after being hired to coach linebackers at the College of Wooster, under 11th year head coach Mike Schmitz. Its a good challenge for me.
Beginning his playing career as a linebacker and running back at West Holmes High School, from 1983-86 -- where he still holds the school record for punt returns in a single season, with 19 as a freshman -- Horn moved on to the University of Findlay, where he led the Oilers in rushing yards his freshman, sophomore and senior years, and where he is still second in career rushing yards (3,379), fourth in career touchdowns (40) and fourth in career scoring, with 262 points.
Theres no question about it, its been a huge plus for us, said Schmitz, who guided the Scots to a 5-5 record in 2010, while going 4-2 against North Coast Athletic Conference opponents. I remember when he was a player at West Holmes and Findlay, and Ive always had a lot of respect for Jamie as a player and coach.
Some guys are back from last year, added Schmitz. We have seven of 11 starters back, but the linebacker position is not as experienced. The development of that group is going to be key for us, and Im confident Jamie can help us out there.
Weve got a lot of good kids, said Horn, who spent a year on the developmental team for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) following his playing career at the University of Findlay. Youd love to say you have a group of three or four, third and fourth year starters coming back, but weve got three freshmen, and the rest are sophomores or juniors. They play with a lot of emotion and effort, they have great attitudes, and when it comes time for games, youre going to see some good things out of them.
Horn spent eight years as an assistant high school football coach, including last season coaching linebackers at Loudonville High School, but made his mark most recently coaching the Knighthawks elite level travelling baseball team.
Having formed the Knighthawks as an 8U coach-pitch team back in 2005, Horn guided the contingent of youngsters, made up of players entirely from inside the borders of Holmes County, to the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), AA division, 9U Ohio State championship in 2008, as well as the Nations Baseball 10U Select division Ohio State championship, Great Lakes Regional championship, and East Coast National championship in 2010.
However, after leading the Knighthawks to a 35-13 record as a 12U team in 2011, including a top 25 finish at the Cooperstown Dreams Park and American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame tournament, at the beginning of June, and a runners-up finish in the Silver bracket of the Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) World Series, near the end of July, Horn told his team, Ive coached my last baseball game as head coach of the Knighthawks.
It was two-fold, explained Horn, whose hiring by the College of Wooster coincided with the end of the CABA World Series. The kids need a change. All theyve had is my face and voice for the last six years. I think its in their best interests that somebody else takes it. And now that Im coaching at the College of Wooster, with spring practices, recruiting and the season, Im not sure Id have enough time for the kids.
In order to accommodate Horn, sixth-year College of Wooster defensive coordinator Seth Duerr switched from linebackers to defensive line coach.
The switch has been great, said Schmitz. Seth Duerr had flexibility. It made sense to move him because Jamie has more experience at linebacker.
But as Horn explained, Its still a learning process for me, Im still learning coach Duerrs coaching philosophy and defensive schemes. And I really cant say enough about coach Duerr. He has really taken time to explain the schemes he wants to employ here.
Talking about the Scots linebacking personnel 17 days before the Scots season-opener, Horn pointed to senior Matt Breidigam, of Rocky River, and sophomore Angel Porras of Miami, Fla. as the two likely candidates to start the season at outside linebacker for Wooster, while junior Josh Lewis, of Wickliffe, and sophomore Seth Goodwin, of Edison, will likely occupy the middle.
Its early yet, said Horn. But they definitely fly to the football and I think its going to be an exciting year.
The College of Wooster kicks off its 2011 campaign at home, Thursday, Sept. 1, against Baldwin-Wallace, under the lights at John P. Papp Stadium.
