HOWARD — Gage Steinmetz brings intentionality to the East Knox football program as he takes on the head coaching position. He also brings tradition, experience, and a lifelong love of the Bulldogs.
At the February meeting of the East Knox Board of Education, former head coach Andrew Beatty passed the baton to Steinmetz.
“I went through the hiring process in February and was hired in March,” the new head coach said.
Beatty spent seven years as an assistant coach before taking the helm. Steinmetz is entering his seventh year with the team.
However, Steinmetz’s tenure with the Bulldogs goes back even farther. As a college student, he worked as an assistant coach at his high school Alma mater.
“Basically, from the moment I graduated, I started helping as a volunteer assistant for two years and then as an assistant for the varsity team,” he said.
Steinmetz describes himself as a “lifer” in Knox County and specifically at East Knox. After graduating in the Class of 2020, he earned his teaching credentials at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Steinmetz teaches sixth- and eighth-grade Language Arts and previously taught at the high school.
2026 season: A trinity of success
The new head coach looks forward to the upcoming season.
“We’ve got a lot of kids coming out. We are bringing back several upperclassmen, and are projecting to have eight or more seniors, which is more than we have had in the past,” Steinmetz said.
According to Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) rules, no official practices can take place prior to August first. However, players may work out on their own.
The coach said he plans several areas of concentration for the team, building the team around a trinity of success: big, strong, and fast.
“Speed, agility, and using bio-metrics to build lean muscle mass. It is all necessary, and you have to be intentional about these things,” he said.
“We want to focus on the entire athlete and not just concentrate on one area.”
Beatty’s tenure comes full circle
Andrew Beatty’s tenure with the East Knox football program has come full circle.
Beatty spent seven years as an assistant coach, five of those under Cody Reese. When Reese stepped down, Beatty took the helm of the Bulldog gridiron program.
Steinmetz is now the head Bulldog, but Beatty won’t be going far.
“I’ll be an assistant coach, basically on both sides of the ball, offensive and defensive lines,” Beatty said.
“Gage asked me to stay on as an assistant, otherwise I would not have.”
As a father of five with a full-time job, Beatty felt now was a time for some adjustments.
“I stepped down because being the head coach was affecting my life more than I cared for it to. Being an assistant fits my schedule better; I just feel that this is the right time,” he explained.
The former head coach believes he can be most effective as a member of the support staff.
“I believe that I am good at empowering and equipping people and am excited to see where the team goes from here under Gage,” he said.
Beyond the football field
Beatty made it clear that he understands his new position.
“I’m excited to see what we have, and I think I can help with that. But I want him (Steinmetz) to do his own thing.”
Beatty said that his relationship with the new head coach transcends the football field.
“I think the world of coach Steinmetz; we are best friends,” he said.
Steinmetz agrees that Beatty will be an asset to the team.
“He’s a great friend and a great role model, so I think he is a perfect fit to continue being part of the program. He will help build these kids up. He has a great relationship with the players,” Steinmetz said, adding that Beatty’s influence extends beyond football.
“He is a huge part of the community, so I think retaining him as a part of the program is huge. I’m really excited to have him on staff.”
Growing the program
The selection process involved a committee sitting in on and asking questions during the interview sessions.
“Each candidate was asked the same set of questions, followed by additional questions based on their individual experiences,” Athletic Director Bailey Sprague explained.
Sprague is pleased with the selection of Steinmetz, someone already familiar with the school’s culture.
“I am excited to welcome Coach Steinmetz in as our new head football coach,” the AD said.
“I would also be remiss not to mention just how much I appreciate the job Andy Beatty did. He welcomed me into this community three years ago when I arrived, and he is such a positive influence on our students.”
Sprague outlined goals for the new coach.
“For next year, the expectation for Coach Steinmetz is to continue to grow our football program. This growth starts with our young men who will be competing on Fridays, emphasizing their growth as young men and athletes,” he said.
Sprague is confident that Steinmetz has had solid on-the-job training.
“Coach Steinmetz has had the ability to coach with and be coached by two great examples of this in Cody Reese and Andy Beatty,” Sprague said.
“I have every confidence that Coach Steinmetz will take what he has learned through his experience playing/coaching and continue to grow our young men into stand-up members of our community.”
The perfect spot
Of course, no East Knox football conversation would be complete without mention of the Devil/Dog rivalry between the Bulldogs and Danville Blue Devils.
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of it,” Steinmetz said. “It is something that we look forward to, and that really pushes us throughout the year. It is something that we, as a coaching staff, will be pushing. We are looking forward to that week 10 match-up.”
As a “lifer,” Steinmetz feels he is in the perfect spot.
“I love the area, I love the school, I am right where I want to be,” he said.