Triplett returns to coach West.

[IronBurg_89]

slideshow By BOB STRICKLEY

PDT Sports Editor

WEST PORTSMOUTH — After a one-year hiatus, Merril Triplett is resuming the role of Portsmouth West head football coach that was occupied by Bob Shaffer during the 2011 season.

West athletic director Eric Nichols confirmed the personnel change Tuesday evening.

“The rumors are true,” Nichols said. “Mr. Triplett is resuming command, so to speak, as the head coach of the West Senators.”

Triplett stepped away from his job as the Senators’ boss in June to tend to an illness in the family and Shaffer, who was a West assistant coach in previous seasons, filled the leadership role and guided the Senators to a 10-2 finish in 2011.

Shaffer’s finale as the coach of the Senators came in West’s Division V Region 19 semifinal where they fell 14-9 to a Bucyrus Wynford team that went on the defeat the SOC II champion Valley Indians in the Division V regional final.

“Bob truly was a valuable asset in the classroom and on the playing field,” Nichols said. “The kids looked up to him as a coach, as a teacher and as an old Marine.”

Triplett, 55, said his passion for coaching has been renewed after his 2011 sabbatical.

“When you take a year off you get a new surge to get back into it,” Triplett said. “Getting to work with young kids, it keeps you young, and West is a great place to coach because the kids and the community are all about football. It’s a treat to coach at West because everyone gets excited and they all want to win.”

Although Triplett was not technically part of the West coaching staff in 2011, Shaffer and his assistants kept the wayward coach involved in the weekly process of preparing the Senators.

“Bob kept me very much a part of the program,” Triplett said. “We would hash out questions together and break down film on Sundays. He kept the same system we had been running in place and did a great job. It was nice the way it worked out for me to still be involved and so I could take a year off from the pressure but not really from the program.”

A coaching veteran of nearly 30 years, Triplett has made head coaching stops at Symmes Valley, River Valley, Oak Hill, and Ironton, among others. Nichols initially hired him to coach at West six years ago.

“I received a phone call from him then that was one of the best calls I had ever heard from a prospective coach,” Nichols said. “I can’t say enough about his talents as a coach and as an intervention specialist.”

Nichols, who is also the assistant principal at West, said the high school is blessed to have both Triplett and Shaffer in the building. Shaffer will continue his responsibilities as a tutor while Triplett will continue his as an intervention specialist.

Triplett has led the Senators to several impressive finishes, including an undefeated regular season in 2008. He coached the Senators to an 8-2 finish in 2010 before he made the decision to focus on his family last year. In his stead, Shaffer kept the entire coaching staff intact and guided the Senators to a second-place finish in the SOC II.

“Bob did a great job last season and so did the assistants,” Triplett said. “We have a great group of coaches and I really appreciate what Bob did and that he will still be involved.”

Now that he is back as the head man, Triplett is embracing the offseason workout routines that have given West a reputation as one of the strongest teams in in the area.

“We lost 11 good seniors from last season’s team, eight of which started three years for us,” Triplett said. “But there are always other groups stepping up and our guys never dodge hard work. The kids here will work through whatever you throw at them and because of that, our teams are always going to be strong.”

Triplett said his coaching staff will remain the same except for the addition of Scott Bricker, who had been an assistant at West previously.

Despite the loss of 11 seniors, the Senators will have eight juniors returning for their final season, including 6-4, 250-pound offensive lineman and Division I prospect Jesse Scott.

“This group of seniors we have is tough,” Triplett said. “I’m very excited to get back into coaching.”

Bob Strickley may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 203, or bstrickley@heartlandpublications.com.

[PUNKUNHEAD]

So after being turned down by 2 other schools he settles for west ? I would have stayed with Shaf============

[urban buck]

Of course you would have !

FYI: SP The Principal, The Administration, The AD, The Superintendent, The Committee, not to mention the community, WANT TRIPLETT. He was asked to take the job. Just a power struggle that had nothing to do with him stopped that. Is there a job out there he applied for in SEOhio that didn't make news?lol If you know anything about football, you would know. There are alot of places that would like to have him for sure. West is fortunate to have him

[PUNKUNHEAD]

WAS NOT DISPUETING HE IS A GREAT COACH he done great things at west and is a great fit I just dont understand if he knew he could have the West job back at anytime "and he had to know" why put in for the other jobs?

maybe he wanted to relocate? best of luck to him and the Siders.

[osu 77]

So after being turned down by 2 other schools he settles for west ? I would have stayed with Shaf============

What was the second school?

I think SP wanted him and if I was SP I would be glad I am off the schedule this year.

[MTSWNGRVSG]

Good Luck Coach!!

[West Side Pride]

So after being turned down by 2 other schools he settles for west ? I would have stayed with Shaf============

What was the second school?

I think SP wanted him and if I was SP I would be glad I am off the schedule this year.

HAHAHA............You got that right osu :122245

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

that is great news , merril is a great friend of mine, and glad to see him back. what great news for west, and the soc, now i wish them and ironton would start playing again. good luck coach t.

[Game day]

Good Luck Coach I wanted you at South Point bad this year. We really don't know what we are doing at South Point. Not all of us are stupid. I just became a West Fan

[osu 77]

that is great news , merril is a great friend of mine, and glad to see him back. what great news for west, and the soc, now i wish them and ironton would start playing again. good luck coach t.

I think West and Ironton scrimmage this year.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

thats great and i hope it leads to more.these 2 teams need each other.

[sider]

thats great and i hope it leads to more.these 2 teams need each other.

I believe they both have an open date week 8 in either 13 or 14 (whenever northwest drops) I don't know if it will happen or if it's logical that late in the season, but as a fan I'd love to see it. Not starting rumors just saying its possible.

[jtj]

Welcome Back Coach Triplett- looking forward to a great season!

[Bleeding Red]

So did Shaffer NOT want the job or was he just rooted out?

Funny that Lutz basically did this to Triplett, now Triplett does this to Shaffer......only saying this if Shaffer wanted the job. And I dont think of any reason why someone like Shaffer would come out of retirement for ONE year.

Just seems dirty to me. No ethics.

But if Shaffer didnt want to coach this year, I think it will work out. Triplett is a heck of a football coach.

[boogerred]

(In my Buffalo Bill voice) Gooood Good Good

[sider]

So did Shaffer NOT want the job or was he just rooted out?

Funny that Lutz basically did this to Triplett, now Triplett does this to Shaffer......only saying this if Shaffer wanted the job. And I dont think of any reason why someone like Shaffer would come out of retirement for ONE year.

Just seems dirty to me. No ethics.

But if Shaffer didnt want to coach this year, I think it will work out. Triplett is a heck of a football coach.

From what I am told it was more of shaffer letting triplett have the job back, because he would rather assist than run the show at this point. Believe it or not, Im pretty sure this went smooth and this no bad blood between any of the parties involved.

[Bleeding Red]

So did Shaffer NOT want the job or was he just rooted out?

Funny that Lutz basically did this to Triplett, now Triplett does this to Shaffer......only saying this if Shaffer wanted the job. And I dont think of any reason why someone like Shaffer would come out of retirement for ONE year.

Just seems dirty to me. No ethics.

But if Shaffer didnt want to coach this year, I think it will work out. Triplett is a heck of a football coach.

From what I am told it was more of shaffer letting triplett have the job back, because he would rather assist than run the show at this point. Believe it or not, Im pretty sure this went smooth and this no bad blood between any of the parties involved.

That is good. Shaffer is a great guy and stepped in and did a wonderful job taking over for only a year. Thats a big accomplishment. When the article talked about Shaffer and Triplett watching film together, I assume there were some conversations about the possibility of Triplett returning.

I dont agree with some of these coaches leaving and then returning. With the Lutz situation in Ironton, it seemed as though he saw a dry spell coming in talent and took a little break knowing there was alot of talent coming up. Its also hard on the kids to play for one coach, then another, then back to the original coach they had.

Glad to hear it was agreed upon. I assume Shaffer is staying on as an assistant?

[coop]

That is good. Shaffer is a great guy and stepped in and did a wonderful job taking over for only a year. Thats a big accomplishment. When the article talked about Shaffer and Triplett watching film together, I assume there were some conversations about the possibility of Triplett returning.

I dont agree with some of these coaches leaving and then returning. With the Lutz situation in Ironton, it seemed as though he saw a dry spell coming in talent and took a little break knowing there was alot of talent coming up. Its also hard on the kids to play for one coach, then another, then back to the original coach they had.

Glad to hear it was agreed upon. I assume Shaffer is staying on as an assistant?

I read in the 2012 West thread...that shaffer will have NO affiliation with the football team, but remain at the school as a tutor.

by 4th n Goal » Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:31 pm

High Plains Drifter wrote:
As long as he keeps shaffers assistance!

According to 99.3 (however reliable they are), Shaffer will remain working for the school as a tutor, but not be part of the football program.
4th n Goal

[FarAwayFalcon]

Triplett is a very good coach. He will certainly have the senators contending for the SOC II (they might've anyway) and back in the playoffs.

Wonder if this really was a peaceful turnover or not? If Shaffer is no longer on the coaching staff something tells me it wasn't as peaceful as some might say.

[black76]