Menominee Indian High School’s new football coach is undergoing a learning curve in preparation for the upcoming season.
Not only will Tony Noll be taking over a varsity football program for the first time, he also will lead Menominee Indian’s conversion to eight-man football.
Noll was hired earlier this year to replace Chris Clache, who compiled a 15-54 record over eight seasons and a 1-8 mark in the Central Wisconsin Conference-10 last season.
Noll, who was the girls volleyball coach at Almond-Bancroft High School two years ago, has been involved in youth league football as coach and referee in Wausau since 1997.
“I think this will be a great challenge as we all learn and transition to eight-man football this year,” said Noll, who is an English teacher at MIHS. “I am trying to incorporate what I already know about the game.”
Noll said he has spent the summer researching the eight-man game and talking with other coaches in the squad’s new conference — the Great-8 North Division.
Like at many other small schools, the football program at MIHS has been at a competitive disadvantage in recent years because of low enrollment and injuries. The school has not had a junior varsity team for the past two seasons.
“I want to develop a competitive and winning eight-man football program,” Noll said. “But first and foremost, I see high school sports as a place were students learn skills such as discipline and leadership.
“I am a firm believer in my players being students first and athletes second.”
MIHS is the second school in the area to move to eight-man football. Bowler/Gresham made the switch in 2013.
Twenty-tw0 eight-man squads will compete in Wisconsin this fall. The WIAA plans to create a 16-team playoff the year after 30 or more schools offer eight-player football.
