By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Brad Lennox has two goals as the new St. Cloud head football coach: to bring stability to the program, and to win games.

Lennox, 45, a former St. Cloud assistant coach for four seasons under Mark Jackson, accepted the job Monday. He was an assistant under Doug Nichols at rival Osceola for the past two seasons.

“It’s a great opportunity to go back to St. Cloud. It’s a program that is so rich in tradition,” Lennox said. “I’m really looking forward to going back there and working with those young men.”

St. Cloud Athletic Director Matt Milton said there were more than 200 applicants.

“We had some high-profile applicants. A lot of experienced coaches wanted this job,” he said.

Milton said Lennox’s high moral standards and knowledge of the school played a role in the decision.

“With Brad, you know that you are getting a person of the highest character, a person who brings a great work ethic and a lot of football knowledge,” Milton said. “We’re excited to have him back.”

Lennox became the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator under Jackson before leaving in the spring of 2010 to join Nichols’ staff at Osceola.

“I appreciate the opportunity I had to coach at Osceola with Coach Nichols. He is nothing but class, and I learned a lot from him,” Lennox said.

Lennox attended high school and college in Michigan and began his coaching career at his high school alma mater, North Adams High. He also coached at Hillsdale College in Michigan before moving to Florida in the mid-1990s. He joined Jackson’s staff at St. Cloud in 2006.

Lennox said St. Cloud can be successful next season even though it is losing the school’s all-time leading passer, quarterback Phillip Steinmetz, and the team’s three top receivers to graduation.

“I know a few of the (returning) players from when I was there before. I know we can do it, it’s just a matter of working hard,” he said. “It’s that simple. We’re just going to get to work and get things taken care of.”

St. Cloud, which finished 3-8 after two forfeits, nearly upset Lakeland, 26-21, in the regional playoffs under interim Coach Chad Ansbaugh.

Lennox said that performance is an indication of the talent of both the St. Cloud players and the coaching staff.

“That was impressive. From what I saw on tape, those coaches did a great job under difficult circumstances,” he said. “You know the kids at St. Cloud always are going to play hard. That’s just the way they are.”

Lennox will to talk to the assistant coaches at St. Cloud before making decisions about filling his coaching staff.

Since June of 2010, when Jackson was forced to resign by former Bulldog Principal Pam Tapley, the school has had three head coaches. Mike Short resigned at midseason after violating FHSAA bylaws about student eligibility.

Milton said he would like to see Lennox move to the St. Cloud campus immediately after the Christmas break.

“Those are details that need to be worked out by the principals,” Milton said.