After the conclusion of the 2021 football season, NHS decided to hire Greg Slade as the new head football coach for the 2022 season. Slade will be taking the position of former head coach Chris Jaax who was released from the position in the fall of 2021.
Slade is entering the season at Newton after coaching football for 33 years. Slade has coached at a few different schools and has had some impressive wins while coaching. He led Rose Hill to the 4A state championship and helped get Campus to the playoffs where they won their first playoff game ever.
“I have coached football for 33 years, 21 years as a head coach, 15 years at Rose Hill High School, and 6 years at Campus High School,” Slade said.
Slade said that there are definitely some things he will be looking forward to about coaching next season at NHS. He plans on going with the football program through a culture change and he is just looking forward to being able to be a head coach again.
“I am looking forward to being able to be a part of a culture change with the football team and Newton High School. The administration has been leading the way with culture change in the High School,” Slade said. “Secondly, after being away from being a head coach and being an assistant for the past three years, I am looking forward to returning to the sidelines as a head coach and getting to lead the Railers football program.”
Slade has already been preparing for the season since the day he was hired. He has already spent time getting to know the players and getting involved with the community. Although formal practices for next season have not started yet, that did not stop Slade from getting to know the 2022 football team.
“We have been preparing for the season since the day I got hired,” Slade said. “I was in the building the next day meeting the players. Our first chance to see players in action will be June 6, at 6:30 am for a team camp at Fischer Field.”
There will be some changes in coaching styles for the next football season. Slade says that there will be a very energetic and hardworking coaching staff ready to take on the next football season.
“There will be a change [in coaching styles.] As we work through the spring with personnel decisions and program decisions, we will begin to implement them this summer,” Slade said. “[The team] will work hard this season and we should have a very energetic coaching staff to bring excitement to the team.”
Overall, Slade is the most excited to be given the job of coaching the football team and is ready to get started. He says that he feels very welcomed and is looking forward to being a part of the Railer Family this season.
“I would like to thank the interview committee and the administration for giving me the opportunity to be the head football coach at Newton High School, go Railers!,” Slade said.