Andrews Tabbed To Guide Panthers
NAPPANEE – NorthWood High School has turned to a familiar face to guide the future fortunes of its’ tradition-rich football program.
Nate Andrews, one of the most successful athletes in the history of NorthWood High School, has been tabbed to become its new football coach.
Andrews, a 1996 NorthWood grad, has spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Western High School near Kokomo. Andrews was 15-8 at Western, including a 9-2 mark this season which included a share of the Mid-Indiana Conference championship.
Andrews earned 11 letters in three sports while at NorthWood. He led the Panthers on the gridiron to three Northern Lakes Conference championships and a Class 3-A state runner-up finish in 1993. NorthWood went 13-1 that season under coach Rich Dodson, losing 14-12 to undefeated Roncalli in the state championship game. Andrews was a member of the Indiana North All-Star team his senior season.
Andrews also had a prolific wrestling career while at NorthWood. He captured the state championship at 171 pounds in 1996. In track, he won seven individual NLC championships and led his team to three league titles.
Andrews went on to play football at Ball State University. He captained the Cardinals in 2000 as they claimed the Mid-American Conference championship and played in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Andrews coached for five seasons at Lapel High School before going to Western. He was 25-31 at Lapel with a sectional championship.
Andrews will coach his home games on Andrews Field, the field named in honor of his father Jim. The elder Andrews, a NorthWood High School grad and Hall of Fame coach for the Panthers, died in a car accident in 1992. Jim Andrews coached NorthWood from 1972-92, posting a 150-67 record.
Scott Hoover, who was 30-27 in five seasons as NorthWood coach, resigned Oct. 26. The Panthers were 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the NLC this fall.
Andrews’ hiring is expected to be approved Monday night at the school board meeting.