PROCTORVILLE - Forget the eye doctor. Brent Wilcoxon is certain his vision is 20-20 when it comes to coaching football.

After viewing various job openings, Wilcoxon spotted the one he wanted and saw his wish come true as he was hired Monday to be the head football coach of the Fairland Dragons.

"It's the job I've been eying for quite a while. It worked out. The football and science jobs were both available at the same time," Wilcoxon said.

Fairland won't be the first school in the Ohio Valley Conference for Wilcoxon. He spent several seasons as an assistant coach in the league and two years as a head coach.

"I like being back in the county. I enjoyed my first go 'round and there are some new faces and some renewed excitement in the conference. There are now three new coaches among the six teams. It's an exciting time to get back in the conference," Wilcoxon said.

Fairland was 7-4 last season and earned a Division IV playoff berth. Wilcoxon wants to use last year as a springboard to additional success.

"They had a taste of success. I hope they're not completely satisfied. I'm hoping our goals are higher. I want to win the conference and make it back to the playoffs," Wilcoxon said.

Wilcoxon, 41, brings a wide-range background with plenty of success of his own.

He spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Logan and then one season as a graduate assistant at Ohio University.

The next two seasons were at Richmond County in North Carolina where the program won back-to-back state championships. The second season had Richmond County ranked No. 4 in USA Today.

Wilcoxon also worked two seasons as an assistant at Warren Local, three years at Chesapeake, and last year he coached at SEOAL champion Gallipolis.

In between Chesapeake and Gallipolis was a two-year stint as the South Point head football coach. All Wilcoxon did in his first season was win the school's first Ohio Valley Conference championship since 1981 and first outright title since 1980.

As an All-Ohio player, Wilcoxon was the starting quarterback and defensive end for the 1979 Ironton Class AA state championship team.

Wilcoxon replaces Bryan Ward who did not seek to return to the job.