Terry Dion, a former Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman who has been an Aberdeen High School assistant coach for the past two years, has been named the Bobcats’ head football coach, AHS athletic director Ken Ashlock confirmed today.
Dion’s appointment is expected to be confirmed at tonight’s Aberdeen School Board meeting.
The 54-year-old Dion succeeds Ron Clark, who resigned last year. Three applicants were interviewed for the position, with a fourth withdrawing his name from consideration.
Dion said today that he was excited about the opportunity.
“Being here for a year and a half, I know the kids and the community,” he related. “I don’t feel like a hired gun. I really understand the school and the community because I feel so much part of it.”
A high school history teacher at Aberdeen, Dion spent the 2010 campaign as the Bobcat defensive line coach. He was promoted to defensive coordinator last year.
“He’s quiet, kind of a gentle giant,” Ashlock said. “The kids really reacted to him well once he got his bearings with the defense. He knows our kids, which is going to be a help. And our kids know him and they’re excited about that.”
Although stressing he plans to adjust to the team’s personnel, Dion said the Cats likely will favor a wing-T offense and a 3-5 defensive alignment — with an emphasis on physical football.
With much of the line returning and a shift from the Evergreen 2A Conference to the Greater St. Helens 2A League next fall, Dion is optimistic about the future.
“Next year should be the transition to winning and we’re going to be very competitive,” he said.
After playing on a Shelton High School state championship team in 1974 (he also played at Auburn), Dion spent four years as a defensive end at the University of Oregon and played in the Japan and Hula bowls.
A fourth-round draft choice by the Seattle Seahawks in 1980, Dion played nine games (starting two) for the Hawks as a rookie before injuries ended his career.
Most of Dion’s coaching experience has been as an assistant. His only previous head-coaching assignment was at Quincy in North Central Washington in 2007-08.
In addition to Aberdeen, Dion has been a football assistant at Shelton, Yelm, and Capital. He recently coached the Bobcat C squad in boys basketball and will also be a track assistant this spring.
One of Dion’s college accomplishments was attaining the highest grade point average on Oregon’s football team. While doing post-graduate work at the University of Washington, he made the dean’s list.
“I really want to promote the student-athlete,” he said. “I want (football) to be a meaningful experience for them.”
