RHS graduate Nolen returns to hometown as new head football coach

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Sports Editor, Daily News

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You can come home.

Tim Nolen, a 1974 graduate of Robinson High School, has been asked to rebuild a program that went 1-8 the last two seasons.

"I know people say its really tough to go back home and coach," Nolen said. "But I've been away a long time, long enough that I think any negatives are gone."

"Wow," said RHS Principal Troy Hickey. "What a hire. It's been tough to keep things quiet until everything could be worked out."

"I started dropping hints to Tim after I stepped down," said RHS Athletic Director Terry Roche. "We've been friends for a long time. We always used to talk about how we had to be combatants one day a year, and good friends the rest of the time.

"I have a lot of respect for him. He knows how to coach and he knows how to win."

When asked about the rumors of his own return to the sideline, Roche answered, "Yes, I've thought about it. But I think this is the best solution. Who knows, maybe I can help Tim."

"This was a difficult decision," Nolen said. "Not because of returning to Robinson, but because I wasn't looking for a job when they approached me."

But Nolen said once the ball started rolling, things just fell into place.

"I think the timing was just right.

"I've always been proud of the fact I came from Robinson," he said. "I've always loved my hometown."

Being closer to his parents, Jack and Dottie Nolen of Newton, was also a factor.

"My folks are getting to the age where I wanted to be closer to home. They've always given us support, now it's time for me to support them.

"My parents were happy and surprised by my decision, but we were all a little surprised. It will be nice to do things with family."

After 14 years at Mt. Zion, Friday wasn't a particular good day for Nolen.

"It was a tough day," he admitted. "Mt. Zion has been great to us. We had a lot of good times here.

"I left a good team and a real good program (at Mt. Zion), but every minute that passes by, I feel more and more like this was a great decision."

Nolen, who graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1978, also received his Master's Degree in physical education from Wright State (Dayton, Ohio) in 1990.

His football coaching experience includes head coaching duties at Newton (1982-83) and Villa Grove (1984-88), before he was the defensive coordinator at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio (1989-92) and assistant football coach at Eastern Illinois University (1992-93). He has been the head football coach at Mt. Zion since 1994.

"I'm excited about working with the kids at Robinson, the RHS administration and Terry Roche," Nolen said. "I've got two weeks of school left at Mt. Zion, and then we'll have to go through the process of selling and buying a house, and making a move.

"But when I get to Robinson I want to meet the kids and get started on putting together a coaching staff, and getting things rolling. We'll need to get things organized for this summer."

While the next few weeks will be a blur for Nolen, it won't be anything different than the last two weeks.

"This whole thing took on a life of its own the last couple of weeks, "he said. "Like I said earlier, I wasn't looking for a job when Robinson approached me, but the Robinson school board, administration and Terry made it happen.

"I've always had an interest in Robinson, but after I talked to Dr. Williams, Mr. Hickey and others, and listened to their great plans for the future of the school district, and the potential here - I liked what I heard.

"They told me I was the person they wanted for the job, the person to get the ship righted.

"I feel like we can do it, and once I can teach my system, we'll be okay," he said. "I've coached against Robinson for a lot of years, and I can tell you from what I saw, the kids from Robinson played better football than their record might have indicated."

"Obviously, Tim has a great deal of coaching experience," Roche said. "He's been through the good and bad, and the ups and downs. He's already experienced and had to react to most situations he might face here.

"When you're a young coach, you thing coaching is all about Xs and Os, but it doesn't take long to realize the Xs and Os take a back seat. He's handled a lot of those other situations, and he's a proven winner.

"Tim has done a great job everywhere he's been, and he works hard," Roche said. "He's a great competitor and he will give the football program his full effort."

"Terry and I have been friends for probably 16 to 17 years. I knew Terry before I came to Mt. Zion, and I just have tremendous respect for him," Nolen said. "He has put Robinson on the map athletically, and I'm looking forward to working with him."

Besides a wealth of knowledge, Nolen brings with him a 122-83 career record, and a .725 winning percentage in the Apollo Conference. The Braves also won five conference titles and were runners-up twice under Nolen. His teams qualified for the IHSA playoffs eight times, including seven of the last eight years, but his best season came in 2001 when Mt. Zion went unbeaten in the Apollo and 10-2 overall.

Welcome home, Tim.