Jets announce new Head Coach
Coventry Jets have selected Paul Rickhuss to take on the role of the clubs Head Coach, recently vacated by Gerry McManus.
The new coach is a native of Coventry, who moved to the USA from the UK in 1980 when he was nine. He originally moved to Texas but also lived in Washington and finally Arizona. He served three years in the US Army before returning to Coventry in 1996.
Rickhuss began playing at Kitty Hawk Junior High School. then moved onto Judson High School in Converse Texas where as a freshman defensive tackle he was one of only five players selected to go up to varsity. He then went to Washington State, where he played as a fullback and rushed for nearly 2000 yards in two seasons. As a senior in high school he made the all conference team that made it to the quarter-finals of the state playoffs. He was recruited by a few Division 1 Colleges but due a knee injury, he was unable to take up any of the offers.
He got his start as a coach by going into local schools in the UK and in his first year took the side he coached to a Championship game. This he says was one of his best football experiences, as they had never played the game before and narrowly lost to a team that had players who competed at an international level.
He has been the Assistant Head Coach for the Jets Junior team for two years, and was Assistant Head Coach of the senior Jets in the 2011 season. Rickhuss is right at home with the Jets having played for them since 2005, winning several titles including the 2008 National Championship.
His response to his appointment was: ‘Firstly I would like to thank coach McManus for all his support and guidance that he has given me over the years as a player and a coach. Now it is time for the Jets to have a fresh start. Gerry has done so much and taken the club from strength to strength. I think we need a new look, and I hope to give them this with my appointment”.
