Back in the game

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CHARLOTTESVILLE — High school football coaches lead their players through hours of drills, dozens of sets in the weight room, sprints on the practice field followed by even more drills. The grime, sweat, blood and tears are all a part of the process.

The week’s work all leads up to two and a half hours of contest under the glow of Friday night lights; that competitive energy is the fuel for success in any coaching career, said Doug Armstrong, Eastern Hancock’s new head football coach.

The opportunity to get back in the game was a call he couldn’t refuse.

Following a year-long hiatus from full-time coaching, Armstrong will start next football season as the Royals’ new head coach. Armstrong will step into the role after spending last season as a part-time coach helping the staff with strategy and organization behind the scenes. 

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Armstrong has a storied career: He served as the assistant coach for Speedway, Roncalli and IFCA South All-Star Team (2013), the defensive coordinator for Cathedral and Franklin Central and the head coach for New Palestine, Indianapolis Manual, Beech Grove and Mt. Vernon. Armstrong has won five state titles and seven semi-state titles over more than 30 years of coaching.

When Armstrong took over for New Palestine, in 2002, he was working with a team holding a losing record for six straight seasons. Within three years, they had won a sectional game. 

It was a similar story with Mt. Vernon; before 2011, their losing streak had lasted approximately 5 seasons. During Armstrong’s time as head coach, Mt. Vernon won about 70 percent of their games.

Now he’s ready to lend his talents to the Eastern Hancock Royals, who are hungry and ready to push forward with summer conditioning, Armstrong said. Having worked with the team last season, Armstrong said he’s become acquainted with their individual and collective talents, noting that he’s especially looking forward to capitalizing on the Royals aggressive rushing game. Armstrong is also planning to take advantage of the strong group of senior linemen on both sides of the ball, he said.

When Armstrong introduced himself as the new head coach to Eastern Hancock’s football team, he relayed the backbone of his coaching philosophy to the students. The opponent you’re playing doesn’t matter; four battles must be won in every game, he said: Field position, turnovers, special teams and defense. If the Royals gain the edge in these areas, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with to even the strongest teams in the conference, Armstrong said. 

The coaching veteran believes the combined expertise of his coaching staff will lead them to develop the necessary building blocks to be successful on the field, he added.

“It’s always good to have experiences and things to draw back on,” Armstrong said. “You have to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the situation you’re in, fix the parts that need fixed and kind of stress the strengths of your team.” 

Armstrong resigned as head coach at Mt. Vernon in 2016 after coaching the team for six seasons. He eagerly took the opportunity to return to that competitive environment and do what he loves, he said.

Armstrong played a kind of consulting role on the team last year, said Michael Galyon, Eastern Hancock offensive coordinator. Even in that short time, the coaching staff nevertheless looked to him as sort of a mentor, Galyon said.

Armstrong continually shares his passion for the sport with the student athletes, encouraging them to improve themselves as a way to make the team a stronger unit, Gaylon said. 

Clayton Shultz, Eastern Hancock’s defensive coordinator, said Armstrong’s coaching resume speaks for itself. He agreed that the coaching staff should have no problem moving forward, welcoming in the “new guy” with open arms.

“He’s a wealth of knowledge for me, getting the game plans going in the right direction,” Shultz said.

After meeting with the football team earlier last week, the student athletes were attentive when he discussed his coaching philosophy, Shultz said.

The players and coaching staff alike are happy to have Armstrong on board, he added. 

“Players follow their coaches, and he’s just a high character kind of guy,” Gaylon said.

Armstrong added that teaching the sport is just one aspect of the job. Instructing students in good discipline, self-development and team cohesiveness are what he looks forward to most. The camaraderie he fosters among the players and staff often develop into lifelong friendships, Armstrong said. 

“I’ve already begun a friendship with them,” Armstrong said. “I’m excited to be at a school with such a good administration and reputation. I look forward to quite a few years there of producing a quality football team for a school in the community.”

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Name: Doug Armstrong

High School: Perry Meridian (1980)

College: University of Indianapolis (1985)

Coaching Career: Speedway (assistant), Roncalli 1988-90 (assistant), Cathedral 1991-99 (defensive coordinator), Indianapolis Manual 2000-01 (head coach), New Palestine 2002-08 (head coach), Franklin Central 2009 (defensive coordinator), Beech Grove 2010 (head coach), Mt. Vernon 2011-16 (head coach), IFCA South All-Star Team 2013 (assistant).

Head Coaching Record: 97-79

Record at Mt. Vernon: 45-23

Championships: Sectional Titles (3A – 2004, 2005 at New Palestine; 4A – 2012 at Mt. Vernon; 3A – 1988, 1989 at Roncalli; 3A – 1991, 1992/4A – 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999 at Cathedral). Regional Titles (3A – 1988, 1989 at Roncalli; 3A – 1991, 1992/4A – 1996, 1998, 1999 at Cathedral). Semistate Titles (3A – 1988, 1989 at Roncalli; 3A – 1991, 1992/4A – 1996, 1998, 1999 at Cathedral). State Titles (3A -1992/4A – 1996, 1998, 1999 at Cathedral; 3A – 1988 at Roncalli).

HHC Titles: 2005, 2006 (at New Palestine), 2012 (at Mt. Vernon)

Mt. Vernon Season-by-Season Record

Year;School;;W-L

2011;Mt. Vernon;5-5

2012;Mt. Vernon;11-2

2013;Mt. Vernon;9-3

2014;Mt. Vernon;6-4

2015;Mt. Vernon;6-5

2016;Mt. Vernon;8-4

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