The Greenon High School graduate Waddle, who got his start in football with the Enon Pee Wee Knights in the 1980s and has been defensive coordinator for the Tigers for the last seven years, was officially named head coach at Marietta on Wednesday. He is the 29th coach in the 117-year history of Marietta football.
“I’ve had some opportunities at a few other places,” Waddle said. “I haven’t always felt they were the right fit for me. I haven’t always felt the university or college had the commitment to winning. I went to Marietta, and I just had the feeling that it was a great fit for me, that the college was committed to excellence on the football field and in the classroom.”
Waddle, 33, has spent exactly a third of his life with the Tigers. After starting his career at the University of Findlay, he played three seasons at Wittenberg (2000-02). He coached defensive backs at Mansfield University (Pa.) in 2003 and at Maryville College (Tenn.) in 2004.
Waddle returned to Wittenberg in 2005 as defensive backs coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator a year later. His 2009 defense led the nation in total defense (190 yards per game) and scoring defense (8.9 points per game), and the Tigers won two titles and shared two titles during his eight seasons on the staff.
“Wittenberg’s a great school and has a great football program and a great tradition,” Waddle said. “It really was a dream of mine to get hired there as a defensive backs coach eight years ago, and it was an amazing honor to lead the defense for the past seven years.
“Working with coach (Joe) Fincham and the rest of the staff was always great, and the student-athletes you get at Wittenberg were second to none in the classroom and on the football field. It’s been exciting to have an opportunity to leave. At the same time, Wittenberg was a place I’ve always been proud to be a part of.”
At Greenon, Waddle played for John Hill, who he called a great leader. Hill encouraged him to get into education. Waddle’s dad Bill also influenced his decision to get into coaching.
“My dad was my Little League basketball coach, and he used to coach my brothers and I,” Waddle said. “We were always the best in Little League. He took it really seriously. He worked us hard. He always encouraged me to go that route.”
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