Gazette-Times reporter

Philomath High has a new football coach.

The Warriors will be led by Troy Muir, a longtime assistant in the program who played for Woody Bennett and worked under former head coaches Steve Bennett, C.A. Rath and Gerald McEldowney.

Muir replaces McEldowney, who resigned in December.

Muir graduated from PHS in 1994. He was a three-sport athlete and played center on the football team. He started as a film assistant and scout two years out of high school and took on the junior varsity program.

Muir has a degree in business administration from Oregon State and is a self-employed contractor.

Philomath athletic director Jon Bartlow said there was no teaching position filled, so it was important for the program to be led by a coach who has close ties to the town and will probably stay around for years to come.

"He's done a lot of good things for us the last several years," Bartlow said. "He's a strong leader, well respected by the community and the kids.

"I think we have a chance of longevity with him."

Muir led the PHS junior varsity to an 8-0-1 record last fall.

"Football was my passion, I had great times with it," Muir said. "Steve Bennett opened the door for me (as a coach) and kind of eased me into it."

Muir said it wasn't long before he had his eye on the head coaching spot, but put the time and work in first.

"It was always a goal," he said. "I knew I had a lot to learn, but probably after about three years doing JV I looked at trying to expand."

He said Woody Bennett has the most influence in his coaching style. Woody Bennett taught Muir how to play football and showed him how a high school coach should handle himself on the sideline.

"We all started with Woody," Muir said. "Philomath football in present time was molded with Woody. He put a winner on the field and changed attitudes."

Muir will take the philosophy he learned and bring it to the field. He will bring a workmanlike approach and will expect the players to know their assignments and be able to do their job.

He wants the Warriors to be tough, physical and disciplined.

"I think with those three things we'll be successful," he said. "I kind of hang my hat on those things and I think good things come from them."

While numbers were down in the program a few years ago, McEldowney and the assistants worked to get players interested and they've gone back up in recent seasons. Muir expects around 55-to-65 players out this fall.

He will be putting in new schemes on offense and defense. He said a two-back set should fit the Warriors' talent well. He was working with Steve Bennett on the offense a few years ago.

"The kind of athletes we have in program right now dictate that we need hand it to more than one guy," Muir said. "The offense we have, we hope to get down in the lower ranks so we have so continuity coming up."