A Knights coaching legend heads home as a familiar face steps up to carry on the tradition
MACEDONIA, Ohio — Nordonia High School Head Football Coach Jeff Fox has announced his resignation after 14 seasons leading the Knights program. Fox will return to his alma mater, Willoughby South High School, where he will serve as Athletic Director.
During his tenure at Nordonia, Fox compiled a record of 106 wins and 56 losses, guiding the Knights to 11 OHSAA Playoff appearances and a State Runner-Up finish in 2014.
The Nordonia High School Athletic Department acknowledged Fox’s contributions in a statement, saying the department wishes to thank him “for all of his hard work and commitment to the Nordonia Football program and community.”
With three months remaining before two-a-day practices begin, the athletic department will recommend Scott Barwidi as the next head football coach. Barwidi has been part of the Nordonia program for 18 years, serving in multiple roles including strength and conditioning coach, defensive backs coach, quarterbacks coach, special teams coordinator and most recently assistant head coach.
Barwidi’s credentials extend well beyond the football field. In 2013, he was named the National Football Federation Ron Stoops Assistant Football Coach of the Year. He was also recently inducted into the Baldwin-Wallace University Athletic Hall of Fame, where he earned Division III All-American honors as a Yellow Jacket.
From 2009 to 2021, Barwidi also served as Nordonia’s head track and field coach. Under his leadership, Knights track teams captured 13 league championships, four district championships and one regional championship. Nineteen school records were set during his tenure, and 64 Nordonia athletes earned All-Ohio honors.
Barwidi currently teaches Physical Education at Nordonia High School. His wife, Elle, is a Business teacher at NHS and serves as the Assistant Varsity Girls Volleyball coach. His daughter Riley is a 2025 Nordonia graduate now attending Ohio State University, where she is a member of the crew team. His son Brock will be a senior at Nordonia during the 2026-2027 school year.
The athletic department expressed confidence that Barwidi will provide the continuity needed to sustain the program’s tradition of success both on and off the field.
