[Batpuff]

By RICK GREENE / The Independent


Former Symmes Valley and Oak Hill football coach Merril Triplett has been named Ironton’s new head football coach, replacing longtime coach Bob Lutz who resigned earlier this year.

“There was a cloud that coach Lutz would come back, but he announced he wasn’t so the board hired Merril,” said Terry Parker, Ironton’s athletic director whose resignation was also announced at Thursday’s school board meeting.

Mark Vass, who was an assistant football coach last season at Portsmouth West, was named Parker’s replacement. Parker, who said his resignation came by his own accord, had been heavily criticized following Lutz’s resignation.

“He has made a lot of smaller schools successful," Parker said of Ironton's new coach. "He turned Oak Hill into a winner and this will be a great transition. The kids love him and he’s already working with them in the weight room. I’m excited to have him on board.”

Triplett was a volunteer assistant last season at Ironton because of family circumstances, Parker said. Triplett played on Ironton’s 1973 team, which was a state runner-up after the school’s first undefeated regular season, and graduated from Ironton in 1974. He was on Lutz's first two teams at Ironton.

The board announced Triplett received a two-year contract.

Parker, who will continue as an assistant football coach, said Triplett will bring a hard-nosed approach just like his predecessor.

“Ashland won’t have to change their scouting report too much. But he’ll throw in some new wrinkles and throw it a little more than we have in the past. His teams will be physically tough,” Parker said. “There’s a great group of kids coming back and they’ve been very patient waiting for a coach. They’re committed and they’re glad to have a coach and I think a lot of the them were glad to have Merril.”

Triplett was unavailable for comment late Thursday.

[BurntTires]

Congrats coach.....and good luck on you first season at Ironton.