NC hires Emmerson for football

Grady Emmerson, a former Washington State University linebacker and two-time Greater Spokane League defensive assistant coach of the year, has been named head football coach at North Central High.

Emmerson, who served as defensive coordinator at East Valley the past two seasons, will replace Jay Jordan at NC. Jordan resigned following his second season to accept an administrative position at the school.

“He’s an energetic guy, he’s excited and he has a passion for football – that really came out,” said NC assistant principal Travis Schulhauser of Emmerson. “We’re excited to see where he can take North Central football.”

So is Emmerson.

“North Central is the perfect opportunity for a guy like me,” Emmerson said. “Jay has done a great job lately getting the numbers (of players) up. He told me he has spent a lot of money the last two years buying new equipment for the new players and that’s great.

“You know, you can never guarantee wins and losses. My goal is to come and have the kids start seeing success in whatever they do. Then the wins start coming along once you start seeing success on the field, in the weight room, in the classroom, wherever. I just want to bring a new enthusiasm to the school, a new pride to the area.”

Emmerson, who is coaching junior varsity tennis at EV, hopes to meet with NC’s returning players next week and start putting together a staff.

Although Emmerson has only been coaching at the high school level for five years, his football pedigree is a deep. He’ll draw on that pedigree in his coaching.

He grew up in Kennewick, where he came into contact with Lions head coach Ed Troxel long before high school.

“Since I was 5 years old, being around Ed Troxel in the Tri-Cities,” the 28-year-old said, “I learned about his caring for kids. It was way beyond football and Xs and Os. He just let you know that he cared.”

At WSU, where he was part of the 1998 Rose Bowl team, the team’s defensive coordinator was current head coach Bill Doba, who was “straightforward,” according to Emmerson.

“If you asked him a question about where you stood, he didn’t mess around,” Emmerson said. “He told you exactly what you needed to work on.”

His two high school stops were at Gonzaga Prep, where he was mentored by veteran head coach Dave Carson, and EV, where he worked with Adam Fisher’s young staff.

“We were always searching for the new knowledge, what’s out there, what’s working, trying to figure out the newest things to do,” Emmerson said.

Many of those coaches took time to recommend Emmerson for the NC position, along with former G-Prep principal Al Faulkner, EV’s principal Jeff Miller and EV’s athletic director Joe Kostecka.

“His recommendations were fantastic.” Schulhauser said. “He comes very highly recommended from East Valley, not only on the football field but also in the classroom, and that’s something we are looking for from all our coaches.”

Emmerson will teach mathematics at NC, something he does at EV and did at G-Prep, where he coached for three years after graduating from WSU in 2000.

Emmerson and his wife, Rian, have a daughter, Talia, born during football season last year.

“My wife is the best football wife in the world,” Emmerson said. “She is so happy and so excited for me because she knew this is a goal of mine and dream of mine.”