NEW MANCHESTER – Doug Taylor is back in the big chair.

Taylor, a graduate of Oak Glen, has returned to the head coaching ranks as he takes over the reins of his alma mater from Ted Arneault, who resigned earlier this year.

“I was a coordinator at Madonna the last two years,” Taylor said. “I didn’t plan on going back and becoming a head coach. I was not thinking about being a head coach, but then I got this opportunity and I’m glad to be back in this position.”

The Golden Bears are coming off of a difficult season as Oak Glen ended the season with a record of 2-7. Oak Glen only managed to play eight games last season. One loss came via forfeit.

“I knew some of the coaches last year,” Taylor said. “We had contact with the coaching staff at Oak Glen. I knew some of their players. I know some of their administrators. I know the principal – Mr. Smith. I’m not going in blind. I want to help these kids any way that I can.”

After last season’s disappointing year, the Golden Bears are anxious to get out on the field and get the season started.

“We had kids out in the summer,” Taylor said. “We have been working out. I understand people have vacations and jobs. Now that camp has started, the kids are all here. Everybody is here. We want to start building. The kids are working in their positions. They are getting better. They are learning what to do.

“It’s the time of the year coaches look forward to. You get to start working on everything. You have two-a-days. The kids cannot wait until there are singles. I understand it from both sides as a coach and as a player.”

Many of the starting positions were settled in early August, however, some sots were up for grabs.

“The kids are putting in a lot of work,” Taylor said. “There are still some fights for positions. We have a pretty good idea of who is going to start where. We may have to juggle some things around.

“I like our skill position players. We have good depth there. We are thin on the line on both sides. Players are still fighting for some positions.”

Offensively, Oak Glen is going to rely heavily on its ground game this season. The Golden Bears are going to run a Wing-T offense.

Senior Landon Beatty will start at quarterback, and he will be backed up by sophomore Wesley Molish.

Senior Kholton Goodlin will start at running back.

“I really like him,” Taylor said. “He’s a good one.”

The wing backs will be seniors Matthew Greenlief and Buck Franklin.

“Greenlief got a lot of playing time last year,” Taylor said. “He can run the ball. Franklin has the best speed I have seen from a high school player. He has a lot a skill. Boy, can he run.”

Also expected to get carries this season are junior Anthony Burt, sophomore Ethan Haenke and senior Nate Davis.

Freshman Tyler Mozingo will see some time as a wing back.

The Golden Bears will be relying on several freshmen to make contributions to the team this season.”

“We have good depth,” Taylor said.

Senior Tristin McCauley will start at tight end, and he will be backed up by senior Aiden Flowers and freshman Logan Murray.

Junior Xavier Howard returns as the team’s starting center. He will be backed up by freshman Brandon Friend.

“Brandon does a good job,” Taylor said. “He’s aggressive. He’s built right.”

The starting guards will be seniors Vince Quintana and Kyler George. They will be backed up by sophomore Evan Clouston and freshman Sam Wright.

The tackle spots are still to be decided. Senior Josh Blake is expected to start at one of the tackle positions, while the other position is still to be determined. Miro Gudino, Kaiden Hebrock, Noah Schmidt and Jayden Wilson are all in the running to earn the starting spot.

Defensively, the Golden Bears are going to run a 4-3.

“We have some good aggressive kids,” Taylor said. “They run well. We are going to run an even front with two high safeties.

McCauley and George will start at defensive end. Blake will man one of the tackle spots, while the other one is up for grabs. Hebrock, Gudino and Schmidt are all competing for the starting nod.

Quintana and Franklin will be the inside linebackers, and they will be backed up by Clouston, Davis and Wright.

Burt and Molish will be the outside linebackers, and they will be backed up by Devan Juszczak. Beatty and Flowers will also time at linebacker.

Goodlin will be a starting linebacker.

Greenlief will start at defensive back. Haenke will be on the other side.

Flowers and Murray will be the safeties. Beatty may also see time at safety as will Glenn Adams and Trent McCartney.

Senior Trent Richmond will handle the kicking duties this season, while Goodlin will be the punter. McCauley will serve as the team’s long snapper, and Beatty will be the holder.

Greenlief and Franklin will return kicks and punts.

Several young players are expected to contribute to team this season. That group includes Gage Groetzinger (OT/DT), Jacob Minger (ILB), Kam Hebrock (DT), Camden Flowers (WR), Wyatt Wolanski (OLB), Cody George (OLB), Lucas Zoellers (TE), Richie Gudino (guard), Will Weekley (safety), Kyle Greenlief (RB/OLB), Nate Cameron (OT), Ashton Orr (DB), Issac Cline (WR), Parker Boyce (wing back) and Ricard Brew (ILB).

“No doubt I would say our depth at the skill positions is our biggest strength,” Taylor said. “We have a lot of guys who can run the ball and a lot of guys who can catch the ball. We have guys with experience. We have guys who have gotten playing time. We are just trying to build that togetherness. You get that with time.”

The Golden Bears face a tough schedule this season, and Oak Glen opens the season Aug. 25 at home against Hancock County rival Weir.

“We open with Weir, and they are loaded,” Taylor said. “Then, our next four games are all on the road. We play Robert C. Byrd, North Marion, Toronto and Beaver Local. They are all really-good teams. They are going to present a challenge for us. We are going to have to grow up quick.

“We have to build the team concept. The kids are buying in. The kids are anxious to get started. We want to see what they can do. They can’t wait to get into pads.”

To be successful this season, the Golden Bears are going to have to remain healthy. That was not the case last season as Oak Glen was hard hit by the injury bug.

“We have to stay away from the injury bug,” Taylor said. “They had a ton of injuries last year.”

The team continues to be motivated by what happened at the end of the 2020 season. Oak Glen reached the state semifinals, however, the Golden Bears season came to a close as the team was not able to play in the semifinals due to COVID-19 regulations.

“They are hungry,” Taylor said. “They are still upset about what happened in 2020. They want to do well.

“If I can bring these kids anything besides leadership, it would be luck. We have to stay away from injuries. If we can play the year fairly healthy, I think we can be successful.”

Oak Glen is looking to pick up wins this season against its main rivals Weir and East Liverpool.

“Our first goal is to get wins against our main rivals Weir and East Liverpool,” Taylor said. “Next, we want to qualify for the state playoffs. Ultimately, you want to win a state championship. Our main goals are to beat Weir and East Liverpool and to qualify for the state playoffs.”

Though he is no longer the head coach, Arneault is back with the Golden Bears. He will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator.

“He could not stay away,” Taylor said. “It’s a new year. He knows all the kids.”

Eric Nejus will also be an assistant on the offensive side of the ball.

T.J. Miller is the team’s defensive coordinator, and he will be assisted by Scott Pryor.

Ray Pernell and Jason Wiley round out the coaching staff.

“We’re hungry,” Taylor said. “We want to keep getting better. We are looking forward to our first game.”