Following a successful run as head coach at Marionville, veteran Jamie LaSalle has accepted the same position at East Newton.
LaSalle will be returning to the district that gave him his first job out of college.
“I took the job at east Newton because I know that the kids at East Newton want to succeed and deserve to enjoy high school football,” said LaSalle. “The kids there are intelligent, tough, and work hard; all those traits are what lead to success on the field. I have experience with a lot of programs in a lot of different stages and I look forward to the excitement of my players competing on a daily basis.”
Marionville was 32-17 in LaSalle’s four years at the helm, but 29-9 over his final three years after going 3-8 in his inaugural campaign, including district championships in 2013 and 2014.
“My time at Marionville has been great,” said LaSalle. “I have had the privilege of coaching a lot of great young men. I have also coached with some great coaches. I have learned a lot.”
LaSalle will look to turn around an East Newton program that finished 0-10 in 2015 and was outscored 506-33 on the season. The Patriots are 2-38 over the past four seasons and 5-65 since 2009.
He is familiar with the landscape of football in the Ozarks after stops at Greenfield, Fair Grove and Sarcoxie. He even has some familiarity with the Big 8 as an assistant at Mount Vernon.
While returning to one of the state’s premier football conferences will present its challenges, LaSalle is eager to get started. He will also bring with him an offensive flare that led to the Comets scoring 40 or more points 13 times in the last two seasons.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity,” said LaSalle. “My interview with the school board and administration was extremely positive. We all want the program to succeed and understand the value of a great football high school experience. We are already working together so that will become a reality.”
East Newton will open the 2016 season on Aug. 19 against Lighthouse Christian.
