Evansville Coaching Change: Paridaen Takes Over at Tecumseh High School

Evansville witnessed an interesting shift in high school football coaching as Joey Paridaen was officially approved as the new head coach for Tecumseh High School during a recent Warrick County School Corp. board meeting. Taking over a Class 1A program that has struggled, with just one victory in the past two seasons, Paridaen expressed excitement for the opportunity.

Paridaen previously coached at North High School in Evansville for seven years, where he led the team to 35 wins and a sectional championship. He shared, “You have to make decisions as a coach and a teacher in this profession sometimes. It’s not always an easy one. I feel like it’s just best for me and my family at this point in time. I’m really excited and grateful for this opportunity at Tecumseh.”

One of the factors influencing his decision to move was the time commitment demanded by a larger program like North, especially since he has three young daughters. Moving to a smaller school allows him to prioritize his family life better, which was a significant consideration in his coaching career.

Paridaen has a rich history in coaching, his career initiated with smaller programs. Notably, he guided Eastern Greene to the Class 1A state championship game in 2017. His overall head coaching record stands at 71-72 over 13 seasons, with a stop at Wood Memorial included in his journey.

Reflecting on his time at North, he stated, “The one thing I missed being at a smaller school was building those relationships. You get to see those kids on a more consistent basis.” This move to Tecumseh will allow him to foster those relationships again.

The program at Tecumseh has had its ups and downs, recently going 0-9 last fall under former coach Bret Szabo, who stepped down in November. Paridaen aims to create some consistency and excitement in the program, noting that Tecumseh had successful teams in the late 90s and early 2000s.

As Paridaen takes over, he leaves North High School with a record of 5-6 from last season and several key returning players such as all-state linebacker Ricky White Jr. and all-SIAC defensive lineman Mike Epps. North’s Athletic Director Tyler Choate expressed gratitude for Paridaen’s years of dedication to the program and mentioned excitement for the future as they begin their search for a new head coach.

Paridaen concluded by thanking the North administration for his time there and pointed out that despite the move, the opportunity at Tecumseh was ultimately the right choice for his family. He is enthusiastic to contribute to the culture at Tecumseh and looks forward to the challenges ahead.