This fall there will be a new captain at the helm of the Grandview High School football program. In June, current Kiona-Benton High School head football coach Darren Mezger will begin his career as a Grandview Greyhound.

Mezger has been hired as the new head football coach for Grandview High School. 

“We are very excited to have Coach Mezger lead our football program,” said GHS Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Scott Parrish. “He is going to be a great fit for our school and community, not only on the field but also in the classroom. We are fortunate to have someone with his enthusiasm and successful experience.”

Mezger has a long history with the sport. He played high school football at Mark Morris High School in Longview, graduating in 1997, then he played at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon.

Mezger also has more than a decade of coaching experience under his belt. He has been at the head of the Kiona-Benton football program for the past three years and before that he was assistant coach at Sunnyside High School for 10 years.

Mezger said he’s excited to be heading up Grandview’s football program and plans to bring his offensive philosophy to the field, a philosophy that broke rushing and passing records at Ki-Be.

“The offensive and defensive formations we use will be built to maximize the talents of the athletes in Grandview,” Mezger said. “My message for the athletes of Grandview is simple, be ready to compete for your position. The best players play on Friday nights. Competition in practice will lead to excellence in the games we have this season.”

Mezger is also a National Board-certified teacher, who will be teaching math at Grandview High School this fall.