Bob Skidmore file
Age: 52
Residence: Farmersville
Family: Wife Roxane, sons Rob (23) and Tyson (20)
School job: Math teacher at Valley View High School
Education: 1982 graduate of Park Hills High School in Fairborn, 1987 graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in education
Coaching history: 29 seasons as a Valley View High School assistant under Jay Niswonger (25 years) and Kris Ketron (four years)
Longtime assistant Bob Skidmore is the new head football coach at Valley View High School.
Skidmore has been an assistant for the last 29 seasons under Jay Niswonger and Kris Ketron, who stepped down after four years at the helm.
“It’s always been the job I’d like to have. I’ve never applied at any other school,” Skidmore said.
Valley View athletic director Mark Kozarec said he received nearly 50 applicants for the position. Ten interviews were planned and nine took place — Nathan Hyatt dropped out after accepting the top job at Vandalia Butler.
“We entertained several different options, but we thought Bob was deserving with the time he’s put in,” Kozarec said. “He’s not the most flamboyant coach, but he’s got the respect of not only the other coaches, but also the players on the team.”
Skidmore was Ketron’s offensive coordinator and served in the same position under Niswonger — sort of.
“Jay called me the offensive coordinator, although I don’t know that it’s what most people would call an offensive coordinator,” Skidmore said. “I assisted him in calling the plays, but he was still the play-caller.”
He has retained all of the 2015 assistant coaches and still has one more spot to fill because of Ketron’s departure.
Ketron ran the defense last season — Butch Stidham is the new defensive coordinator. Skidmore said he’s seeking another offensive coach.
“I will still be involved in calling the plays, but what I’m looking for is someone who can do for me what I used to do for Jay and maybe bring some new ideas,” Skidmore said.
The Spartans have been a multiple, run-and-shoot offensive team, and that won’t be changing a great deal.
“For a long time, we were an under-center-all-the-time team,” Skidmore said. “I’m still going to be under center some, but I’m exploring some things with the shotgun stuff that we started doing last year.”
Defensively, Valley View will be making a change from the 4-3 it’s been running.
“We’re not just going to sit in one front,” Skidmore said. “It’s going to be more of an attacking style defense.”
Valley View was 5-5 last season and 25-17 under Ketron. The Spartans’ last playoff appearance came in 2013.
“I love the community,” Skidmore said. “I was here for all the playoff runs, and of course that’s the goal now. But I told the kids we can’t talk so much about the tradition. We need to talk about what they’re going to do now. We want to get back to competing for league titles. That’s the first step.”
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