Scott Barwidi steps up to lead Nordonia football

by Laura Bednar

April 28 board of education meeting

After 14 years as head coach of Nordonia High School’s football team, Jeff Fox is resigning, leaving assistant coach Scott Barwidi to fill his shoes.

Fox was assistant head football coach at his alma mater, Willoughby South, before coming to Nordonia. He is returning there to take a position as athletic director.

At Nordonia, he posted a record of 106-56 and led the Knights to 11 Ohio High School Athletic Association playoff appearances, including a 2014 Division II state runnerup finish. He also served as the dean of students for seven years.

The Nordonia Hills Board of Education voted unanimously to make Barwidi head coach.

Barwidi has been part of the football coaching staff for 18 seasons, coaching quarterbacks, running backs, cornerbacks, safeties and special teams. He is a physical education teacher at Nordonia High and coordinates strength and conditioning for athletes during the school day. He was the Nordonia girls and boys track and field coach from 2009-2021. 

Barwidi’s wife also teaches in the district. Their daughter graduated from Nordonia last year and their son will be a senior on the football team this fall.

“This community and school has such a great tradition in the sport of football and to be named that person charged with continuing that tradition is a great honor and responsibility,” said Barwidi. “This fall we are looking to be one day better after each lifting and or conditioning session, practice and game situation. Our schedule will provide great challenges to measure improvement as we go. We don’t need to be the best team in the state each week, we just need to improve and be the best team on the field each Friday.”

Associate principal named

In another personnel move, Ronald Wiggins was named associate principal for Nordonia Middle School. Ashley Turner, the former associate principal, became principal of Rushwood Elementary upon Dr. Jacqueline O’Mara’s retirement. 

NMS Principal Bryan Seward said there were over 75 applicants for the position and he, along with other Nordonia teachers, narrowed the pool to 35. They further narrowed the search and conducted in-person interviews. After the first round, they unanimously felt Wiggins was the best choice.

“He’s got so many ideas that we can use to forward what we’re doing in our building,” said Seward.

Wiggins comes to the district from Lorain City Schools, where he was a middle school assistant principal. He and his family moved to the Nordonia district in 2020. Wiggins said after enrolling his children in Nordonia, his son said, “I can finally be myself.” Wiggins said it is an honor to live in and serve the Nordonia community. 

“I am a man of integrity, character and accountability, not just for my students and my staff but for myself,” he said. 

Rushwood leadership

Renee Piper, paraprofessional for Rushwood Elementary School, talked about the Rushwood leadership group, made up of 20 third- and fourth-graders that meet monthly to contribute to the school and community. Piper has been the group adviser for 10 years. Last year, representatives from the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District talked to students about how to best care for the environment. Other student activities included writing notes of gratitude to teachers, visiting a local nursing home to sing Christmas carols and a “pajama jam” fundraiser, in which students donate money to wear pajamas to school the last day before winter break. The students use the money during a shopping trip to Target, where they buy pajamas for children in foster care.