“Everything takes time,” Yordy said. “We understand 2-8 isn’t really where we want to be, but you’ve got to do the little things right and then that’ll take care of the bigger things. Hopefully with the amount of work we put in, we can have a better season than 2-8.”
Yordy was the offensive coordinator at Mount Healthy last year when Badin endured one of the worst seasons in school history.
HAMILTON: Big Blue looking to continue upward trend
MIDDLETOWN: Middies eager to move forward after 0-10 season
In 93 years of Hamilton Catholic/Badin football, the program has lost eight games exactly twice, going 2-8 in 2004 under Dave Wirth and last season under Bill Tenore. The 2016 Rams allowed more points (320) than any team in school history.
Tenore was dismissed last November. Yordy, a 1997 Badin graduate, was hired in January.
“The kids know they were 2-8 last year. They’re not too happy about it,” Yordy said. “We talked about how we wanted to change a few things, kind of raise the expectations around here a little bit, and the kids have responded well since I’ve been here. We want to change the culture.
“The amount of support I’ve gotten … is awesome. We’re excited to see what happens.”
Yordy said the numbers are good — he’s got about 70 players in grades 9-12 — and the squad has worked hard in the weight room under the direction of strength coach Craig Cheek.
The offense is changing with Yordy as the O-coordinator. The pistol Wing-T is gone.
“We’re not Wing-T, we’re not spread. We’ve got a pro-style, multiple formation-type offense,” Yordy said. “So we’re just going to see what the defense does each game and kind of go from there. It’s a lot of the same stuff we did at Mount Healthy.
“Badin’s always had success running the ball, so we’re going to try to run the ball. But we have to figure out what we’re going to be good at, and whatever is working in the game is what we’re going to do.”
Seniors Lavassa Martin and Kegen Rogers are back to head the ground attack. Senior Jordan Flaig, junior Luke Tabler and sophomore Zach Switzer are battling for the quarterback job.
“All three quarterbacks have done well throughout the summer,” Yordy said. “They all have different strengths and different weaknesses. We’re hoping here in the next two weeks that one of those guys can really separate himself.”
The Rams will continue to use a 4-4 defense under D-coordinator Joe Schlager. A lot of experience returns on that side of the ball.
The varsity coaching staff includes Steve Malone (quarterbacks), Joel Lauer (offensive line), Jon Stewart (offensive line), Dylan Foley (wide receivers), Jeremy Rogers (linebackers), Nick Seither (defensive line) and Chris Wolf (defensive line). Schlager will coach the defensive backs.
“I wanted to surround myself with good people, and I think they’re pretty good guys who know what they’re doing,” Yordy said. “I feel lucky to have them.”
Badin will have two scrimmages, hosting Madison at Joyce Park at 6 p.m. on Aug. 8 and traveling to Little Miami at 7 p.m. on Aug. 17.
The season will begin with a Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown game against Ross on Aug. 25 at Virgil Schwarm Stadium.
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