Document text
--> --> Nov. 20: Nagel calls it quits Grizz football coach who brought three state titles to Ashland turns in his resignation By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings The Jim Nagel era is over. Nagel, Ashland High's football coach the past 20 years, announced his resignation Tuesday, ending a spectacular run that brought unprecedented success to the program in the form of three state titles, seven Southern Oregon Conference championships, 16 straight playoff appearances and 170 wins. The longtime coach told Ashland School District Superintendent Juli Di Chiro and AHS principal Jeff Schlecht of his decision late last week, then made it official with the team Tuesday at lunch. He plans to retain his post as Ashland High athletic director through the 2003-04 school year, he said, but has not completely ruled out leaving early to coach elsewhere. However, added Nagel, "it would have to be a great offer." Nagel said he basically made the decision following Ashland's 51-15 loss to Roseburg Nov. 1, but wanted to sit on it for a while. "It's been a great 20 years and I'm hoping that I can look back at the success and the wins and not think too much about the heartbreaking losses," he said. After the long playoff streak, the Grizzlies missed the postseason each of the past two years. That contributed to his decision, Nagel admitted, but his wavering motivation was also a factor. "You know, every year, for me at least, I can't wait until next year," Nagel said. "A new challenge, new ideas, new kids. But I just found the last couple years I wasn't that excited at the end of the season. The losses started having more of an impact and the wins started being taken for granted. "I don't think that my love and passion for the game has diminished. I'm sure going to miss going out there and working with the kids in some way, but I think I'm looking for a change." Nagel said he's now committed to bringing to the school a top-notch coach. He already has a few in mind, and sounded confident this morning that one would end up taking over the red and white. "I've got a short list of people I think would do a great job and I'm going to talk to them," he said, "and I believe the superintendent, principal and school board would support going after top candidates." Nagel was hired prior to the 1983 season and quickly turned the program around, guiding the Grizzlies to their first state playoff berth in 1986 and to their first state championship in 1989. The Grizzlies won it all again in 1991 then, in perhaps Nagel's best coaching job, won the 1998 state title with a team light on talent but great in the clutch. The '91 championship kicked off a string of three consecutive championship game appearances. Over that span, the Grizzlies went 39-3. Nagel's career winning percentage of .746 (170-58) will go down as one of the best in Oregon history. Fellow Oregon prep coaching legend and SOC coach Thurman Bell said Nagel brought more than just victories to Ashland. Bell said Nagel also made the conference better as a whole, helping establish the SOC as the premier football league in the 90s. "I don't think there's any doubt about that," Bell said. "He helped me to be a better coach. You had to prepare for more sophisticated, better things and that helped. If we could put together plans to try and play Ashland, then it made it a little easier to prepare for those teams maybe a little more talented." "Well, obviously it's sad to see him go in the SOC," added Grants Pass coach and former Southern Oregon University defensive coordinator Jeff Weiss. "He's one of the premier coaches, not only in this league but also in the state of Oregon. His accomplishments obviously speak for themselves. "Jim was also a mentor of mine. When I was at the college for 12 years, I met with him quite frequently, and then when I decided to go high school, he was the first person I met with." Though Nagel's reputation for devising unstoppable offensive game plans is unmatched - his best teams regularly broke the 50-point barrier - much of his success has been attributed to his dedication to offseason workouts, including passing leagues and weight training. "I think the main thing was, he got the kids to work and believe that hard work pays off," longtime assistant Tim Brown said, "and of course, along with that, he had the know-how to make it all work and come together. That's what got us where we went." Nagel said the losses became harder to take recently, but that he's learned to live with them. "I guess the best way is for me to put it in perspective and reflect upon the community, the administration, the coaching staff and my own expectations (in 1983), and then realize that accomplishments far exceeded those expectations." When asked how he would like to be remembered, Nagel said: "I think that as a successful coach who cared about his players and hopefully taught them some life skills and hopefully will be remembered as a class act." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing