North Callaway officially named longtime assistant coach Kevin O'Neal as the Thunderbirds' next head football coach on Monday.
O'Neal will take over for former head coach Mike Emmons, who retired in November with a 157-94 record over 24 seasons.
"I'm honored that I have the opportunity to take over for Coach Emmons," O'Neal said Monday. "He's always been an idol of mine.
"He's a big reason why I got into teaching and coaching."
O'Neal - a 1994 North Callaway graduate - just wrapped up his ninth season as a T-Bird assistant, the last six as the team's offensive coordinator. He coached the North Callaway offensive line in 1999 and 2000 before spending five seasons at Westminster College as an offensive line coach for three years and an offensive coordinator for the final two. O'Neal also coaches the school's baseball team.