Shaker Heights High Hires New Football Coach

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH —Shaker Heights High School has a new head football coach.

Alex Nicholson was hired this week to lead the Red Raiders varsity team. He will also work as a teacher at the high school, starting in the 2019-2020 school year.

“We’re very excited that Mr. Nicholson will be joining our High School staff as the head football coach and as a teacher,” said Interim High School Principal David Glasner. “He will be a valuable asset and visible presence at the High School every day, which is a positive change for this position. We look forward to this new beginning for our football program.”

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

Nicholson's five-year plan for the program includes goals related to both the team's culture and the community, as well as benchmarks for increasing the number of players achieving at least a 3.0 GPA. He also has plans for enhancing the pipeline of talent into the high school, connecting with Shaker Heights High football alums, and competing for regional and then state titles.

“My number one goal during my first year, and every year, as a coach is to provide the very best High School football experience the Shaker Heights City School District can offer,” Nicholson said. “Anything less and we are doing a disservice to our student-athletes and the Shaker Heights community.”

He thinks his role within Shaker Heights High will offer him another insight into the lives of his players.

“Being in the building allows me to check up on our student-athletes’ grades, behavior and other needs. Our student-athletes deal with a wide array of issues and may face different adversity on a daily basis,” Nicholson explained. “The two most important jobs we have as football coaches are to create a culture that brings out the best version of our student-athletes and to prepare them for their next journey in life.”

Nicholson has been a coach with the Charles F. Brush High football program since 2016. He started as a run game coordinator and then, last year, was promoted to associated head coach. In that role, he planned the long-term direction of the middle school, freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity football programs, coordinated fundraising, planned and hosted coaching clinics, and monitored player eligibility. At Charles F. Brush High, Nicholson was also an intervention specialist.

Photo from Shutterstock