By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The anticipation will come to a climax Monday.

Peggy Hughes, spokesperson for the Fort Thomas Independent School District, sent out an e-mail announcing Highlands High School will have a press conference announcing the successor to Dale Mueller as Head Coach of the vaunted Highlands Bluebirds. It will take place at 3 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Everyone is invited to attend.

Mueller announced his retirement from the position on Dec. 9 of this past year after 20 years on the job. Mueller guided the Bluebirds to a record of 250-36, 11 state championships and three state runner-up finishes making him the winningest and longest-tenured coach in the 99 years of the program.

Mueller finished with an overall record of 309-67 in 29 years as a Head Coach. He coached at Cincinnati Withrow and Cincinnati Sycamore before succeeding Tom Duffy as Head Coach of the Bluebirds in 1994.

Highlands Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Brian Weinrich has long been the leading candidate to succeed Mueller. Weinrich came on staff in 1995 as a volunteer assistant and worked his way up to Defensive Coordinator in 2002. Weinrich helped the Bluebirds to the 1989 Class AAA state championship in a 27-3 win over Paducah Tilghman.

Highlands owns the second-most wins in the country with an overall record of 855-227-26 since the program began in 1915. Valdosta (Georgia) has the most wins in the country with an overall record of 882-214-34.

The selection culminates with the start of winter conditioning. That first day was Monday.

The new head coach will have a lot of talent to work with. Beau Hoge is the leading candidate to take over at quarterback and the offense returns wide receivers Jensen Feggins and Alex Veneman. The defense returns players like Griffin Urlage, Andrew Abner, Rocco Pangallo, Bo Hebel and D.J. Mills.

 

FORT THOMAS MATTERS: Mueller's Successor to be named Monday

They don't mess around...

Call me shocked, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Congrats to Coach Weinrich on his selection.

30 days exactly? How does that happen? :sssh:

30 days exactly? How does that happen? :sssh:

 

How does what happen? What are you talking about with 30 days exactly? Not sure what that means.

30 days exactly? How does that happen? :sssh:

 

I think it is a smart move on Highlands part.

Call me shocked, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Congrats to Coach Weinrich on his selection.

Although he didn't say Weinrich was the selection.

I think it is a smart move on Highlands part.

 

I agree.

"uk#1fan accepts Highlands job. Story at 11."

Although he didn't say Weinrich was the selection.

 

I noticed that as well. Sneaky-sneaky.

Although he didn't say Weinrich was the selection.

 

Doesn't have to. A move this fast.....the writing is on the wall.

He cannot say who it is because the school did not tell him who it is. The e-mail went out to media outlets I am sure and the school has also put it out there on Twitter.

 

The real question will be what side of the ball Coach Weinrich decides to coach next year or does he take the approach that he is the Head Coach and then has both an offensive and defensive co-ordinator. Also curious to see if they continue to try and two platoon or if they make a more concerted effort to get their best players on the field during cruch time.

 

Do not expect much to change with the offseason program, but curious to see if some players actually make some position changes this year in order to get them on the field more.

I think it is a smart move on Highlands part.

 

I know age discrimination is not allowed.....how long before HHS looks for another coach? Is this coach in his 50s?

I know age discrimination is not allowed.....how long before HHS looks for another coach? Is this coach in his 50s?

 

Reading the article above, it looks like Weinrich graduated in 1990. That should make him around 41.

I know age discrimination is not allowed.....how long before HHS looks for another coach? Is this coach in his 50s?

 

The article said he played on the 1989 SC team so must be early 40s.