Red Bank High School has hired Ben Reichel as its wrestling coach.

Reichel, who started the program at Silverdale Baptist, succeeds Kevin Emily.

“Kevin has been an extraordinary coach for us,” Red Bank principal Gail Chuey said. “He did exceptionally well with the kids, and all of them love him. You have to be so disciplined for that sport, and Kevin did a really fine job with that. When the rumor got out that he was leaving, a lot of kids said they weren’t going to wrestle.”

Emily decided he needed to get away from wrestling for a year or so and then decided he also would leave the area. Once he began pursuing other jobs, he encouraged Reichel to apply at Red Bank.

“Ben brings something else to the plate,” Chuey said. “He has done some things other than teach and coach, and I have found that those who do other things before teaching usually make good teachers. Ben wants to coach and teach. He came in and met with the kids and the parents, and he has hit the ground running.”

Reichel was one of Emily’s college coaches, so there may not be a major philosophical change for the Lions.

“Our meeting went well. I’m excited,” Reichel said after talking with 17 wrestlers, including 2008 state qualifiers Tony Tolbert and JaMarcus Russell.

Reichel coached Brody Contarino, who became Silverdale’s first state qualifier this past season. He will have more experience, a bigger talent pool and an established program at Red Bank.

“There will be a lot more students to choose from,” Reichel said. “I’ll have a wrestling room, which is a huge plus. At Silverdale we had 189 kids, and half of those were females. I’m also excited to work with the administration at Red Bank.”

A former financial adviser, Reichel will be teaching physical education and personal finance.

“I got the coaching bug a few years ago, and I really want to teach and coach,” he said.

A three-time Southern Conference champion for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Reichel was once a candidate for the Mocs’ coaching job. He also served twice as Ohio University’s interim head coach.

Reichel will have two assistants in place. Bobby Demeritt, a former Pan-American Games silver medalist and at one time one of the nation’s top-ranked Greco-Roman wrestlers, has been helping him with the Seahawks and will join him in the Red Bank program. Also committing to help is John Layne, a two-time Soddy-Daisy state champion.