Cape Central football announces Pixley to fill head coaching void left by Norman

The Cape Girardeau Public Schools Board of Education moved to fill a vacant head coach position in a special meeting on Monday, hiring Kennett assistant coach Arlen Pixley as Cape Central High School's next varsity football coach.

Pixley will take over a program that has been led the last five seasons by Nathan Norman, who took it to historic heights with three consecutive Class 4 semifinal appearances, including the school's first championship game appearance in 2014, before accepting the head coach position at Lindbergh High School early last month.

Pixley had spent the last two seasons at Kennett High School, where he helped turn around an Indians program with his brother Aaron, who was hired as the head coach before the 2014 season.

With Arlen Pixley serving as defensive coordinator, the Indians posted a 14-9 record over the past two seasons after the school had suffered through five consecutive losing campaigns that included a 1-9 season as recently as 2012.

"We've kind of turned around a program that was a little bit starved for winning, and we've got some things in place there and pointed in the right direction," Pixley said. "It's been a good two years -- a great two years -- and it's extremely hard to walk away from the people of Kennett, and the people there have been outstanding. The support there has been second to none. It was a very, very tough decision for me, but at the end of the day my heart's kind of been in Cape for a while. We've kind of got some connections up there and I've got a great working relationship with [Central athletic director] Lance Tollison. He's one of the top AD's in Southeast Missouri, if not the state. There are great people to work with there in Cape."

New Madrid County Central coach Arlen Pixley talks to his players Oct. 25, 2013, at New Madrid. Pixley spent the last two years as an assistant coach under his brother, Aaron, at Kennett before being announced Monday as the new head football coach at Cape Central.CHRIS POBST ~ Sikeston Standard-Democrat

Before his stint at Kennett, Pixley had spent 15 years with New Madrid County Central football program, the final 10 as the head coach. He led the Eagles to four consecutive district titles from 2007 to 2010.

Tollison was an administrator and girls basketball coach at New Madrid during Pixley's tenure.

"Arlen was the head football coach at the time, and I always admired his work with the kids during my time there," Tollison said. "He's just always done a good job and run solid programs. I think we're pretty fortunate to bring that experience on here."

Pixley was one of five candidates interviewed for the position from about a dozen applicants, Tollison said.

"Arlen kind of stood out from the get-go, and we just feel kind of fortunate," Tollison said.

The 45-year-old Pixley also will assume the positions of assistant track coach and physical education teacher, previously filled by Norman.

"Coach Norman and I have had a great relationship for a long time," Pixley said. "We go back to high school days with his brother Brandon, he and I being similar age. I've been at their house and remember being around Nathan when we were real young, and he and I are cut from the same mold. He understands what it takes to run a successful program, that's obvious, and I look to get in there and continue the things he's done, because the all the things he's done, he's done extremely well."

Among those things was getting the Tigers to buy in to the weight room, which was a passion of Norman, and one Pixley shares.

"I've always enjoyed working with various type athletes and work with different type training regiments," Pixley said. "It's an exciting time for me to get in the weight room and work with those athletes and get things going."

While the Tigers will graduate star receiver Al Young, who has signed to play at Southeast Missouri State, and numerous starters on the lines, junior quarterback Kway'chon Chisom and sophomore Aaron Harris, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards, will be among those returning.

"The Chisom kid obviously is one to talk about," Pixley said. "He's got some experience and he's a bulldog on the defensive side at corner, and the Harris kid is a special kid, I believe, who's come along. And those guys, they think they've been getting it in the weight room with coach Norman in the weight room, and that's going to continue with me. A lot of the success they've had has been brought through the discipline of that weight room, and the administrators there are supporting that and making it the forefront of all of our athletic programs."

Pixley is a 1989 graduate of Dexter High School and played collegiately at the University of Texas El Paso, where he received a football scholarship.

While he said defense is his forte, he added he's learned a lot about offenses over the years by trying to stop them. He's also had what he calls some great mentors, which include his former UTEP coach David Lee, now quarterback coach with the Buffalo Bills, and current Missouri head coach Barry Odom, who have imparted many lessons, including ones on flexibility and working with the talent on hand.

He plans to do that at Central to continue the run of success, which includes three consecutive Class 4 District 1 titles and back-to-back SEMO North Conference crowns.

"There's a great system in place," Pixley said. "I'm not a fool. I'm not going to come in there and change everything because I know Nathan and what Nathan does, and we're very similar in what we do, and I think this transition will be a very smooth one for everyone involved."