By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
MINERAL — Home is where the heart is and that is apparently especially true for Mark Fischer. The football coach returned to his roots on Wednesday, as he was reintroduced as head of the program at Louisa County High School.
“It’s good to be home. When you leave, you never know what opportunities will present themselves to come home again,” Fischer said at a press conference. “When Jon [Meeks] got the opportunity that he got to go back to his hometown [in Lynchburg] it just opened the doors for me. And I couldn’t be more excited about coming home, getting back into the Jungle and taking care of business.”
Fischer returns to the Lions after a three-year stint at St. James High School in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, where he posted an 8-22 record.
Meeks was hired last month as Brookville’s football coach. The Lions went 3-7 last season. The Lynchburg native served as defensive coordinator under Fischer before compiling a 14-17 record as head coach.
Fischer, along with then-athletic director Doug Straley, helped create an atmosphere unlike any other in the Jungle during his tenure from 2003-2010. The community rallied around Fischer and his teams and will no doubt welcome him back with open arms.
“We are beyond words excited about what this means for our community and high school,” Louisa athletic director Mike Parsons said. “He’s proven in what he can do here and obviously we’re just cracking the surface of what the community is probably feeling, bringing him back. I’m sure it’s going to be pretty electric here the next couple of weeks and next fall as well. I don’t think that the Jungle ever really went to sleep, but it’s going to make a whole new level of noise.”
Fischer was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2012 and underwent stem cell transplants last year. Today, he is cancer-free.
“When you get to a certain point and go through certain things in your life, you want to do what’s in the best interest of your family and your kids and protecting them,” Fischer said.” And home is the best place to be.”
Under Fischer, Louisa’s most successful season was in 2006, when the Lions advanced to the Group AA, Division 4 title game and posted a 13-1 record. In his seven years as coach, Louisa captured four district championships, including two unbeaten regular seasons and a region championship.
Fischer, who boasts a 69-49 career coaching record, can’t wait to get down to business with his new team.
“I’m hopefully a better coach. I’ve experienced a lot and learned a lot. I’m still going to do things the way I know how to do them and coach my guts out and we’ll see what happens,” said Fischer. “ It looks like there’s a ton of potential. I’ve watched some film and I see a future if we take advantage of it.”
Louisa’s home opener is scheduled for August 29 against Spotsylvania.
