Powell Returning Home

For former Princeton all-state linebacker Nathan Powell, life was pretty good as the defensive coordinator for the Maryville Spoofhounds – a post he had served in for the past nine seasons.
During his 11 years with the Spoofhound program, he had helped Maryville to 11 district championships, eight Midland Empire Conference championships, four state championships and two more state runner-up finishes. Maryville is currently riding a 61-game home winning streak.
With success like that, it would be tough to leave such a strong program.
But, Powell is leaving.
The allure of returning home to take over the program he played for throughout his high school career was too appealing.
Powell, a 1996 graduate of Princeton, will become the school’s next head football coach along with taking over as the head coach of the track and field program.
Powell has been the head track and field coach at Maryville for the past five years, capturing four MEC and four district championships in that span. He guided the Spoofhounds to a third-place state finish in 2013 and a fourth-place finish in 2017. He has coached nine individual district champions, one state champion and 25 state medalists.
“Ashlie (Powell’s wife and a 2002 Princeton graduate as Ashlie Moore) and I are unbelievably excited to bring our family home,” Powell said. “Our time in Maryville has been fantastic, but when an opportunity to get closer to our families and to raise our boys in a supportive community with a forward-thinking school district presented itself, there was no way we could say no. The changes and improvements the Princeton community has invested in are second to none and we can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Powell takes over for outgoing Princeton Head Coach Thomas Hotmer, who resigned after three years with the Tigers to also move closer to home. Princeton ran a record of 21-14 under Hotmer, winning Grand River Conference and district championships in 2017.
“Coach (Thomas) Hotmer and his staff have done a tremendous job establishing a quality program at PHS,” Powell said. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation to move into. I look forward to working with Coach Hotmer and the returning assistant coaches this spring to make a smooth transition and to build upon their recent successes.”
Powell is entering his 18th year in the teaching and coaching profession.