Kopachy to take football post at Salem High

SALEM — Listening to his cellphone in-box greeting, one detects the significance Mike Kopachy puts on his new job.

“You have reached number of Mike Kopachy, head football coach at Salem High School. Please leave a message.”

That message was installed on Tuesday, two days before a special meeting of the Salem Board of Education this morning to officially hire the 29-year-old former Berlin Center Western Reserve coach.

As the 1997 Chaney High graduate makes the transition from a Div. VI program to Div. III, he also conveys the pride with which he leaves his former school and position.

“Western Reserve will always have special place in my heart,” he said. “They gave me a chance to lead a program at age 23 and I’m thankful for the opportunity.

“I know that the friends and families I met there are going to be OK because they have tremendous kids out there.”

Mike was 32-30 at Reserve which enjoyed two playoff appearances and the ITCL Tier Two title in 2006, when the Blue Devils finished 9-3.

The new position will be challenging, Kopachy said, because of the quality of competition in the All-American Conference White Tier.

“They’ve got tough teams and a lot of good coaches,” he said of Liberty, Hubbard, Lakeview, Struthers, Beaver Local and East Liverpool.

Kopachy takes over for Bill Miller, who still teaches physical education and health. Kopachy will teach English at Salem.

“I’m not going to pretend there’s not work to do,” Kopachy said of the remnants of Salem’s 0-10 season in 2008.

“Bill Miller did a great job laying the groundwork of fundamentals. The players were young last year and a lot of them coming back are looking to make leaps in the right direction.”

Kopachy has identified specific talent in Salem’s various sports that fit his system.

“Some of the baseball players have good hands, the athletic ability of those in basketball contributed to a good season this year and the speed in their track program combine to serve as the basis of talent that I’m trying to tap,” he said.

Additionally, the Quakers have great facilities.

“Those are the reasons I threw hat in the ring,” he said. “Now, weeks later, I’m the guy.”

That pool of potential fits into Kopachy’s plans.

“We’ll run the spread offense and utilize a 4-3 scheme on defense. That’s what we did at Reserve,” he said. “Since we don’t have enormous size, the spread plays well to speed and quickness and I think that’s what we’ll have out there.”

Kopachy gave credit to strength and conditioning coach Hank Brock.

“He’s been working them out in the weight room,” he said. “He’s an intense guy who has them all on the same page, whether their other sport is baseball, basketball or track.”

Kopachy was Western Reserve’s coach for six seasons, most recently guiding the Blue Devils to an 8-3 season that included the school’s second playoff appearance in three years.

It also marked the first time Reserve had three consecutive winning football seasons.

Kopachy built a home in the Salem area three years ago. That had some bearing on his decision to apply for the football job.

“When it came open, I was interested because I think the community comes out and supports its product,” he said. “I’m looking to use my experience to get this turned around and in the right direction.”