Hoge Shows Interest In Coaching Highland High School Football

Retired NFL running back Merril Hoge says he might be interested in coaching high school football in Pocatello, a town where he set records at Idaho State University.

Hoge retired from the NFL after suffering two concussions. He played 7 1/2 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears. He ranks eighth on the Steelers’ all-time rushing list.

The job of head coach at Highland High School opened Wednesday night when the Pocatello School Board voted unanimously to dismiss 10-year head coach Randy Rehrer from football duties. The decision put an end to months of turmoil.

Hoge said Thursday he might be interested in applying. He lives in Chicago but it having a home built at Scottsdale, Ariz.

A possible return to the gridiron and Pocatello excites him. He said high school is the only level he would consider coaching so he could make an impact on young people.

“I’m very interested,” said Hoge. “I’m a real loyal person and I have a loyalty to back home, the high school I went to and the college.”