DANVILLE — After years as an assistant coach, Jason Dixon is preparing to step on the big stage.
Dixon will start his first year as Schlarman Academy head football coach today as the Hilltoppers will take on Oblong at 6 p.m.
Dixon takes over for Bob Lehmann, who moved up to the Director of Student Services at Schlarman.
“For years, I have been in the background as an offensive and defensive line coach,” Dixon said. “Last year, I was assistant head coach and I get a shot this year. I really want to keep Schlarman football together, so I have to do a good job.”
While three top players from last year are gone, Dixon is excited for those who are staying to be leaders.
The guys that are coming back have stepped up and has shown the maturity it takes to be a leader,” Dixon said. “Losing Owen Jones, Damian Linares and Dillon Hemker was big, but you have to develop the kids so they can take over that spot.
Princeton Rush, Miles Crosby, Jamie Rapier and Liam Billings are the new captains and Dixon said they all have worked on new wrinkles for the season.
“With losing Owen, I was in need of a quarterback and I knew that Princeton could run,” Dixon said. “But after working with him over the summer, he can throw the ball well and does well with the receivers, so I now have a dual-threat quarterback. The offense that I put in is simple, but there is mechanics to it and he understands it real well.
“Miles will be my tight end and defensive end. He is athletic with a great set of hands, so I can’t turn that down,” Dixon said. “Liam will be my slot receiver and another tight end when I need him. Jamie will be one of our starting running backs and starting linebacker. he showed a lot improvement last year in the last three games at middle linebacker. It finally clicked and I am expect a lot for him this year.”
As far as a top newcomer, Dixon’s persuasion as able to get a player that will be a big part of the season.
“I have a senior that came out and only played one or two years in junior ball and that is Anthony Dye,” Dixon said. “He’s the biggest guy on our team and he’s a monster of a kid, He is 6-7 and around 280 pounds. He is also going to be my kicker. For a big man, he is really athletic.”
Even with some standouts, Dixon knows that it will be a team effort for any chance to improve on last season’s 1-7 record.
“They know it is not one person that makes the team. The motto I have used is We are one,” Dixon said. “You win as one and you will learn as one. I always tried to teach football as a way of life. Everyone as a whole has come together and even the younger guys are showing the maturity and I see that they like it.”
After being an assistant for years, Dixon is looking to the next generation of his family to be the assistant for him.
“My assistant coach is Seth Bennett, who is my son. I couldn’t ask for a better assistant coach,” Dixon said. “He has played since Peanuts and he was a line backer and firs-team all-conference and first team all-conference center as a senior and you can’t ask for a better coach and it is fun to coach with your son.”
For tonight’s game, Dixon is going on the words of another key assistant to get him through this game and the season.
“I am nervous. It is the first game of the year and first game as a head coach,” Dixon said. ‘I have a lot of eyes on me. but like my wife said ‘Go out and do what you have always done for years. You are a natural at it. It is just a game that you coached and played your entire life.’”