Jozokos has Knight vision
By Roger Brown
When Matt Jozokos heard the news, he probably thought it was too good to be true.
Not only had a varsity football coaching position opened up in his hometown, there was a teaching job he was qualified for available at the high school as well. It was an opportunity too good to pass up.
So shortly after Jason Perkins resigned as Kingswood High School's head football coach to become the head coach at Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine, Jozokos applied to fill his position. Shortly after that he was hired.
"It just lined up all too well," Jozokos said. "It gives me the opportunity to build a program. I look at it as an opportunity to give back to the community I live in.
"As far as what the program needs, it needs continuity. These kids haven't had a lot of success and there needs to be a sense of pride installed in them again. Success breeds success."
Jozokos, a 38-year-old Kingswood resident, has spent the last six years coaching Pop Warner football with the Kingswood Lancers. He has served as an assistant coach at Londonderry, Plymouth and Kingswood, but this fall will be the first time he walks the sideline as a varsity head coach.
"We're thrilled to have him," Kingswood athletic director Andrea Ogden said. "He did what all schools want, and that's fill a teaching position. It's a great addition."
Jozokos was a four-year starting quarterback at Plymouth State University from 1987 to 1990. He guided the Panthers to a 36-6 record and three New England Football Conference championships in those four seasons, and is a member of the school's athletic Hall of Fame.
The Knights haven't won a state championship since 1996, when they beat Plymouth, 20-14, for the Division III title.
"I'm not going to say we're going to win a state championship, but that will be our goal," Jozokos said. "We want to give the seniors a chance for some success before they leave."
