Gridiron Glory 2024 Coach of the Year looks to continue his success at new school
By: Grant Kiefer
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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WOUB) — After a frustrating 2-8 season in 2024, the Chillicothe Cavaliers are hitting the reset button—and they’ve put their faith in one of Southeast Ohio’s rising coaching stars to lead the charge.
T.J. Carper, the former Vinton County head coach and 2023 Gridiron Glory Coach of the Year, takes over for Scott Bartholomew, who was let go after three seasons. For Carper, returning to the region was about more than just football—it was about coming home.
“What led me back to Southeast Ohio was just family,” Carper said. “My wife coaches volleyball at Vinton County. The commute’s easier, the support system’s stronger—it just felt right. It means a lot to be around my family and be supported.”
Carper inherits a Chillicothe team that was more competitive than its 2-8 record showed. Several games were decided by just one score, and Carper believes the Cavaliers were closer to a breakthrough than many realized.
“You look at just the growth from last year—they were very competitive,” Carper noted. “There weren’t too many games where they were just out of it. I think they lost a couple of games by maybe a point or two. That can make or break your season.”
His goal? Turn narrow losses into meaningful wins and build a team that can contend in a top-heavy Frontier Athletic Conference.
“I’m looking to come in, compete, and win,” he said. “I want week ten at Jackson to mean something. I want week nine at Miami Trace to be for a league title. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Carper’s experience at Zanesville, where wins were hard to come by, gave him a new perspective on coaching and leadership.
“You don’t learn from your wins—you learn from the struggle,” he said. “Going through that, I wouldn’t trade it. It taught me how to push through, how to treat people right, how to line things up the right way before you ever say go.”
That mindset is already setting the tone in Chillicothe. The Cavaliers’ new coach isn’t backing down from the challenges ahead—including a demanding early schedule with road trips to Bloom-Carroll and London.
“We don’t care. We’re going to take it as a challenge,” Carper said confidently. “I want my kids to look forward to it. We’re not going to back down. I want to be competitive in those games and hopefully pull it out at the end.”
In a short time, Carper has brought renewed optimism and belief to a program that desperately needed it. With a focus on discipline, effort, family, and community, the Cavaliers are aiming not just for improvement—but for a chance to compete in November.
“I really do think we’ve got a shot,” he said. “We’ve got a chance.”