Exclusive: Tom Kline Is The Springfield Cougars' New Head Football Coach

Tom Kline had been waiting 15 years for a head coaching position. He had bounced around with a few programs, under some very successful head coaches. Kline, a Lower Merion High School health and physical education teacher, was looking for the right opportunity. It seems after 15 years, he’s found it at .

Kline was approved by the Springfield School District Board of Directors Thursday, June 2, as the new head coach of the Cougars taking over for Dan Ellis, whose staff Kline served on before Ellis took the head coaching position at West Chester East High School a few weeks ago.

Continuity was a big key in the choice, said Springfield athletic director Glenn Mallon when he posted the position as open. The Cougars may not have found a better fit than Kline, who was the offensive and defensive line coach for three years under Ellis, and will retain the majority of Ellis’ staff.

“I’m really excited about this,” said Kline, who was an assistant coach at Lower Merion and served with Ellis at West Chester Rustin before joining Ellis’ staff when he took over at Springfield.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for 15 years. A big key to all of this is that the majority of the staff is staying and I can’t be happier about that. We’ve worked together for a while now, and work well together. Dan built something here at Springfield and we’re looking to continue it. We have a great staff that’s filled with a lot of good, positive energy.”

When Ellis was offered the position at West Chester East, he asked Kline if he would like to come along and join his staff. Kline thought about it, then thought about staying at Springfield and taking over here.

“But first I had to talk to my wife,” said Kline, laughing. “I went home and we spoke about it. She’s the one who makes all of the sacrifices. She also knew that I’d been waiting for this chance for some time. Once I got her okay, I had to call Dan and ask what he thought, and wanted his opinion, if he thought I was ready. I wanted to get his endorsement first, before I submitted my name. He was all for it. Dan will always hold a special place in his heart, I think, for Springfield, because it was his first opportunity as a head coach. I know he wants the program to continue being successful.”

Under Ellis, the Cougars ended the 2010-11 season with an 8-4 overall mark, losing to Central League rival Strath Haven in the district semifinals. It marked the first time in the playoffs for close to 20 years. Ellis created a high-powered offense that leaned on stars like tailback Matt Craig, who broke a number of school rushing records. Kline is going to continue running the same system.

Kline received another endorsement from an outgoing player, Craig, the hub of the Cougars offense, who was told after the Hero Bowl Thursday night that Kline would be given the job.

“I’m happy for Coach Kline, he’s on top of everything,” Craig said. “I know he was tough on the offensive linemen, but they all respected him, everyone respects him. It’s a great move.”

Kline stressed he’s not looking to do anything different.

“Dan and I both like the spread offense, our ideas are the same and that’s what we want to do with the kids coming back and throughout the program, keep that continuity,” Kline said. “We don’t want to do anything that will rattle the player’s cages. That’s why keeping the staff together is so important. We’re like a family.”

Kline will meet formerly with the Cougars today, June 3, after school.