Matt Polta has been a part of the recent rebirth of the Mathews High football program.

Now, he’s ready and anxious to guide the Mustangs to even greater heights.

Polta, who has served as a Mathews assistant for the past 11 years, has been tabbed as the school’s next head coach. Polta is expected to officially be hired on February 15 when the Mathews Board of Education holds its next meeting.

Polta would replace Bill Bohren, who stepped down in December following a two-year stint.

“I’ve never pursued any other head coaching positions, only because this is where I wanted to be,” Polta said. “This is my home. I always wanted to be the Mathews head coach, but I’ve always been content just being able to be a part of this program.”

Polta, a 2004 Mathews graduate, played under Brian Bosheff and then Jim Parry during his high school playing career. He coached the Mathews middle school program for three years, then began coaching at the high school level in 2012. He has coached under current Mathews athletic director Mike Palumbo, John Protopapa and Bohren.

Polta has been an offensive and defensive line coach throughout his career. He also served as the Mustangs’ defensive coordinator under Protopapa.

“I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve served under some legendary coaches,” Polta said. “I’ve learned so much. Everything from how to treat your players to how to handle tough situations to how to run a program.

“I couldn’t have asked for better mentors. They really paved the way for me to become a head coach.”

Polta takes over a Mathews program which has made the playoffs in each of the last two years. Last fall the Mustangs went 8-3. They will return the bulk of the team in 2023.

“Coach Bohren laid a lot of the groundwork, he really built this program back up both from a numbers standpoint and in terms of performance,” Polta said. “I just want to keep moving things forward. We’ve never won a playoff game, and we’ve never hosted a playoff game. Those are goals to shoot for.

“We have nice numbers in the program. We bring a lot back and we had a strong eighth-grade class that will add to our program. I want to maintain the momentum. I want to make football fun for our kids. I want every kid to understand they are a part of this team.”

Next fall, Polta and his Mustangs will face a beefed-up schedule which includes the likes of Ravenna Southeast, Lowellville, Springfield, and Mineral Ridge.

“Our mindset under Coach Bohren was that we wanted to better prepare the kids for the playoffs, we want to be tested during the regular season so that we’re prepared for the postseason,” Polta said. “We’ll definitely have our hands full but we’re excited about the challenge.”

On Thursday, Polta met with his players. He expects to begin leading the offseason weight program next week.

“To me, one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle is what we do in that weight room during the winter months,” Polta said. “It not only makes the players bigger, stronger and faster, it also builds character and chemistry.

“I’m excited to get things going. I’m excited about the future of this program.”

Palumbo noted that Polta’s passion for the game and his dedication to the development of the student-athletes “will lead to success on and off the field.” Palumbo believes Polta’s long tenure as a Mathews assistant will pay dividends.

“As a former Mathews High School student-athlete, Coach Polta has a deep understanding of the school’s culture and traditions, as well as a passion for developing young athletes,” Palumbo said. “His tenure as a varsity assistant coach has allowed him to develop a wealth of knowledge and experience, making him an ideal candidate to lead our football program.”

Polta currently is employed as a teacher at the Ashtabula County Career and Technical Center.

Mathews opens its season on Aug. 18 at Jackson-Milton.