Higley High offically hired a new football coach Thursday night after the district's governing board approved Eddy Zubey, who has five years of previous head coaching experience in the Valley, as the school's second coach in its history.

Zubey joins his former boss, Steve Campbell (Williams Field's football coach), in helping the district stay strong in its brief football existence that began about a decade ago with the opening of Higley.

""To be honest Eddy didn't get the job because he knew me or Steve," Higley districtt athletic director Art Wagner said. "That didn't help him much. We wanted to hire the best guy available and Eddy fit that description. He brings great character, coaching and educational opportunities for the kids at Higley."

Zubey coached St. Mary's the past three seasons compiling a 12-22 record and playoff appearances two of the three seasons. He was head coach at Westwood in 2006 and 2007 and was 10-13 with one playoff appearance at Westwood.

Zubey was an assistant coach with Campbell at McClintock while Wagner was athletic director at McClintock.

Zubey liked virtually everything he saw and has gotten of a glimpse of for the future at Higley.

"I am familiar with people in the district  which I like," Zubey said. "When I went on campus and saw the facilities it was amazing. The weight room is just like I'd like to see it. It doesn't take a backseat to anything in 5A. It has 2 1/2 practice fields, a game field. It's all top notch."

Zubey doesn't mind leaving the big school classification for a smaller one. Part of the educational process of coaching.

"The more I've been in it, the more I've found it's just football," Zubey said. "This is a growing district and could add 600-700 kids in the next five to 10 years. It's not a big thing to me to be coaching in the largest division."

The decade-old Higley district has enjoyed great success in football with each of its schools already having played in a state title game. This past season Higley reached the quarterfinals and Williams Field the title game. Both lost on late field goals by eventual champion Thunderbird.

"I think the relationship Steve and Eddy have as our coaches will make the rivalry between the schools even more exciting," Wagner said. With what coach (Jim)m Beale did at Higley and Steve has done with Williams Field, we're excited that Eddy can continue it."