NH varsity football welcomes the newest addition to the coaching staff, business teacher Mr. Eugene Liebel for the 2014 fall season.
Liebel was the offensive coordinator for his Alma Mater, Fallston High School during the past 10 years. He even played varsity for four straight years at Fallston and was a Division I athlete at Towson University on a full tuition scholarship.
“If a student athlete wants to earn a scholarship, the best way to do it is to be a great student,” said Liebel.
In addition, Liebel was a starting fullback at Fallston and was a DIAA USA Today Academic All Star and a Senior Team Captain at Towson.
According to Liebel, he is proud of the NH community as a teacher and is grateful for the opportunity to be coaching next year.
“Being a teacher and a coach here allows me extra opportunity to build this relationship with football team members,” said Liebel.
Other than his love for the sport, one of the reasons for Liebel transferring from Fallston is because his children will one day be NH Hawks, according to him.
“The secret for me to being able to do anything that takes this amount of time and energy is to have a great family that loves and supports you at home,” said Liebel. “I am very fortunate to have a great family that supports me in whatever I do.”
Since Liebel is already a teacher, he has already developed a relationship with many of the student athletes and coaching staff he will be working with.
“…The administration and athletic director here are very supportive of athletics and helping kids grow,” said Liebel.
Athletic Director Mr. Timothy Larrimore believes Liebel will be a positive asset for the team.
“Coach Liebel is well liked by both the students and faculty at North Harford,” said Larrimore. “He is a great football coach and is eager to get started working hard for the team.”
Junior Zach Stike plays linebacker and is ready to complete his last high school football season while playing for Liebel in the fall.
“I am pretty excited to play for him this year because he was a great offensive coordinator for Fallston and they had a successful year so hopefully he will bring success to our team,” said Stike.
Now that Liebel will be coaching in the fall, he and the team will still have to face the school rivalry, Fallston. According to him, that will be the toughest change for him.
“There are many people at Fallston that I love and respect, including other coaches and all of the players that are still there,” said Liebel. “Knowing them and how hard they work and prepare, I truly hope that they find continued success without me.”
Liebel knows that being a coach can always be a challenge, but according to him, he knows it will be extremely rewarding and worthwhile. He has even already set some goals for the upcoming season.
“That we are an exceptionally hard working team that respects and honors each other, our school community, and our opponents through our efforts and actions on and off the field,” said Liebel.
Additionally, senior Zach Huber plays defensive line and wishes Liebel the best luck in the upcoming season, even though he will already have graduated.
“I like the fact that Liebel got the job,” said Huber. “I am glad that a good guy like Liebel can take over the team.”
“A lot of being a successful football team, and being in any successful group, comes down to the relationship and trust between team members,” said Liebel.