Popovich new coach at Morthland College

WEST FRANKFORT — Morthland College remained in Illinois to find its new football coach.
Michael Popovich, a former offensive and recruiting coordinator for Army Sprint football and the head coach at Mount Zion High School for the past three seasons, was announced Tuesday as the new head coach at the college.
Popovich, 33, will relocate to West Frankfort immediately, with his wife and three young children to follow this summer. Popovich will start his new role next week, according to college officials.
“I’m jumping in head first. We’ve got to set our spring schedule and get going with recruiting,” he said. “This semester is going to be a whirlwind. We have to establish our core values. We want to make sure the kids understand why we’re here — academics, God, and everything else we want to do with this program."
Popovich said his team will play an uptempo game. To those who have met him, that comes as no surprise.
“His energy level is through the roof. The players are going to have a hard time keeping up with him,” said MC Athletic Director Buddy Foster. “We knew when we met Mike that he shared the faith and values of Morthland College, and he would bring a new energy to the guidance of the program.”
“We want to be a positive part of the community,” Popovich said. “We want people to get excited and come to West Frankfort to watch us play.”
Morthland College's football program was established in 2014 under the direction of former high school coach Mike Rude. The team played its first season as a junior varsity team in the fall of 2015. Rude resigned earlier this month and has since accepted a head coaching position at Vienna High School..
The Patriots will play a nine-game schedule this fall, including at least four games at home in West Frankfort.