FORT THOMAS — Highlands' long and winding road to a new head football coach has ended as Bob Sphire has been hired as the next varsity football coach at Highlands High School.
A veteran of more than 40 years on the sidelines, Sphire has amassed more than 300 wins in his coaching career at the high school, college and indoor football levels and will oversee all aspects of the Bluebirds’ program. Sphire has spent the past 15 years coaching in Georgia after 15 years as head coach at Lexington Catholic High School in Kentucky.
Sphire hails from Brandenburg, Kentucky, and his appreciation for Highlands football dates back decades.
“Growing up in Kentucky and coaching in this state for as long as I did, I know firsthand that Highlands is one of the best schools, academically and athletically, in the commonwealth. Its tradition of excellence speaks for itself,” Sphire said. “The football program is built around champions and championships. And I can’t wait to work with the tremendous young men in the program.”
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Sphire replaces Brian Weinrich, who was head coach the previous seven seasons after spending more than 15 years as an assistant coach at Highlands, 12 as defensive coordinator. Weinrich has since become the defensive coordinator at Beechwood, the reigning 2A state champion.
Highlands was 5-6 last year, losing to Covington Catholic in the second round of the playoffs. Highlands had a fairly young roster, led by up-and-coming sophomore quarterback Charlie Noon.
Sphire’s hiring comes nearly a month after Highlands hired Eddie James for the job. James, the head coach at Franklin County High School in Frankfort, Kentucky, accepted the job on January 9. He was introduced to Highlands supporters and players on Jan. 10 but withdrew his acceptance two days later and returned to Frankfort.
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Sphire is known to Kentucky prep football fans, as he started the football program at Lexington Catholic High School in 1992 and coached the team to a 2005 state championship. LexCath won 17-0 in Fort Thomas in the third round of the playoffs that year after knocking off Covington Catholic in the second round.
Sphire also led North Gwinnett to runner-up finishes in the Georgia state playoffs in 2007 and 2013. One of his former players at Lexington Catholic, Wes Caldwell, is the current athletic director at Highlands High School.
“It’s amazing how life comes full circle,” said Caldwell. “I know exactly the kind of coach, mentor and leader that Coach Sphire will be for our student-athletes, because he has had a profound influence on my life to this day. We have hired a tremendous coach and leader of young men to guide our program.”
Since 2006, Sphire has walked the sidelines in Georgia at North Gwinnett and Camden County High Schools, coaching and developing two players that are currently standout performers on the football scene in Cincinnati. An NFL Draft prospect at the collegiate level, Myjai Sanders is going into his senior year as a defensive end at the University of Cincinnati and C.J. Uzomah is a tight end with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Throughout his career, Sphire has routinely sent his players to Power 5 programs to play college football and a select number have gone on to play on the game’s brightest stage in the NFL.
Sphire also coached professional arena football in Lexington, and he coached Eddie Eviston, who coaches his future district rival at Covington Catholic. Eviston, a standout quarterback at Newport Central Catholic and Georgetown College, played for Sphire in a Lexington Horsemen uniform. The team won the championship of the National Indoor Football League in 2004.
“We sought out an elite coach, and we found one,” Principal Matt Bertasso said. “Coach Sphire’s bread and butter is player development. This is evident from the number of players that have gone on to play at the next level. His strengths will pull the best out of our players. I am excited to watch the tempo, precision, and execution of our team on Friday nights!”
Sphire and his wife, Marian, have two children: Danielle and Hayden. They also have a granddaughter named Gigi. Sphire holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University, a Master of Arts in Education and an M.A. in Physical Education from Western Kentucky University, and Sphire earned his Rank 1 in Teacher Education from WKU.
During his career, Sphire earned the honor of coaching in the prestigious US Army All-American Game three times, as either a head coach or assistant coach. And at North Gwinnett, Sphire’s team was ranked as high as No. 11 nationally in the USA Today Super 25 poll.
“We are going to work very, very hard at Highlands and play an exciting and physical brand of football,” Sphire said. “Let’s go Bluebird nation! We look forward to working daily with a definite purpose stoked by a burning desire.”
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