Josh Lee named new Mascoutah football coach

Living in Mascoutah and working in pharmaceutical sales for the past three years, Josh Lee longed for one of his passions.

A former head football coach at Riverton High School, Lee missed working with kids and seeing them develop into responsible young adults. Lee also missed the Friday night lights so much that he promised himself that if the head coaching job at Mascoutah ever came open that he would pursue it.

On Monday, Lee’s pursuit of the Indians job was rewarded when Mascoutah athletic director Scott Battas officially announced Lee had been named head coach.

“I am extremely excited about this opportunity that I have been given to coach this football team and very appreciative of the welcome and support that I have already received from the Mascoutah administration and staff. My wife Shelley and my daughter Olivia and myself relocated down here a couple of years ago and we are very happy,’’ Lee said.

“I got to the point to where I wondered if I was doing what I was meant to do. I love working with kids and seeing them grow and mature, and I missed doing that. I look forward to coaching this football team.’’

A native of Illiopolis and 2001 graduate of McKendree University, where he played offensive end for coach Carl Poelker’s Bearcats, Lee, 36, takes over the head coaching duties from Battas, who resigned following the 2015 season after coaching his hometown team for seven years.

Mascoutah finished 0-9 in 2015.

“I know that they (Mascoutah) were disappointed about the kind of season they had last year. But in watching them on film, the kids played hard and gave it everything they had. They had some things go against them,’’ Lee said. “Plus, when you look at their conference and the teams they played, I think all but two of the games were against teams with winning records. They played a very tough schedule.

“We’ll play some tough teams as well. I do know that coach Battas and before him, coach (Terry) Moeller were very good coaches and both had some success here.’’

A tough decision

Battas said that the process of choosing a new coach was a lengthy and difficult one. There were 35 applicants for the job with final interviews held late last week.

But in the end, Lee’s passion, knowledge of the game and background in strength training may have given him the edge. Lee gained his college degree in athletic training and worked with professional and Olympic athletes before going back to college and getting his teaching certificate so that he could coach

“Josh brings a lot to the table for us and we are extremely excited to have him on board. We feel like we hit a home run bringing him on board,’’ Battas said. “It was a tough decision., The final two choices are both great football coaches.

“Josh’s background in strength conditioning will enhance all of our sports. He will be a huge asset to our entire athletic program and that set him apart. Plus in his career as a defensive coordinator his defenses allowed nine points a game and he is an offensive guy as well. Josh is a very knowledgeable and humble guy. He is just what we need right now as far as stability.’’

A three sport athlete

Lee played football, basketball and baseball in his hometown of Illiopolis, before moving south to attend McKendree.

After gaining his teaching certificate, Lee moved on to Riverton, where he was a defensive coordinator and later became the head coach with a record of 18-28 in a five-year span from 2008-13. While he was not officially a football coach the past three years, Lee helped his brother — Michael Lee — who is the head coach at Sangamon Valley

“What kind of football coach am I? I believe in hard work and being able to work with the members of my coaching staff and getting their input to establish what we do well as a football team and then build upon that,’’ Lee said. “I know Mascoutah gets a large number of students whose parents are in the military because of Scott Air Force Base and that they have had good athletes who have moved away when their family members have been reassigned.

“First of all, it would be a great honor for me to coach the kids whose parents have done so much in serving this country. But its not just military. It happens when kids attend high school three years one place, then move away as seniors. You thank them and wish them well.’’

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 10:22 AM with the headline "Josh Lee named new Mascoutah football coach."