COAL GROVE - In 1998, Dave Lucas retired as the most successful football coach in Coal Grove Hornets history.

Five years later, another chapter is about to be written.

The Coal Grove Dawson Bryant school board hired Lucas as the head football coach Monday night to resume what he started in 1978.

During his tenure at Coal Grove, Lucas posted a 154-70-1 record including 95-24 in the OVC. He has had only three losing seasons.

A two-time past president of the OHSFCA, Lucas served as the South's head coach in the annual North/South All-Star Classic as well as an assistant on two other occasions.

Lucas has a current record of 176-78-1 with seven state playoff appearances, two undefeated seasons, and won an Ohio Valley Conference record 15 league championships. He also won two straight league titles at Wellston, the school's first in 47 years.

Lucas was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame last April.

"It's good to be back. It feels comfortable. And I'll be there working and trying to get better," Lucas said.

Superintendent James A. Payne is excited to have Lucas lead a program that has struggled through five straight losing seasons.

"We feel fortunate to have him come back. The committee that interviewed him felt he'd bring excitement back to the program and to the community, and that's already happening," Payne said.

"We've had good coaches in the past five years, but things didn't work out for whatever reason. They're still part of our family, they want to see good things happen, and we appreciate their hard work and contributions to the program."

Lucas played at Ceredo-Kenova (W.Va.) High School and was a starter on two state championship teams. He later attended Marshall University where he played football and track.