JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com

It took a little longer than expected, but Ephrata has finally filled its vacant football coaching position.

Former Hempfield varsity assistant coach and head junior varsity coach Jim Vieland, 34, got the thumbs up from Ephrata’s school board Monday night, and he will be the Mountaineers’ next head coach.

“He’s coming in to meet the team for the first time (Tuesday) at 3:30,” Ephrata athletic director Tommy Long said.

Vieland replaces Ken Grove, who resigned his post after 18 seasons on Ephrata’s sidelines last fall.

“Jim comes from a program with a lot of success and he got a lot of great experience there,” Long said. “He coached a lot of great kids and he coached on some teams that went to the district playoffs.

“He put in the time there as an assistant coach and he’s come up through the ropes. Now he has a passion for being a head coach.”

Ephrata’s school board was close to voting for a potential coach on Jan. 21, but former Conestoga Valley, Wyoming Valley West and Wilson coach Jim Cantafio, who was believed to be the final candidate after the first round of interviews, withdrew his name from consideration on Jan. 18.

The job was posted again – this time with a new search committee – and Long said he received 16 applications.

Vieland did apply the first time around, but Long received his application about a week too late.

“It’s funny how things work out,” Long said. “He applied too late the first time, and I remember him telling me that if things didn’t work out, to make sure to keep him in mind.”

That’s when Cantafio withdrew his name, the job was reopened, Vieland sent in his resume again, and ended up getting the job.

This will be Vieland’s first head-coaching gig, after he spent the last 11 years as an assistant at Hempfield, under the Knights’ last two head coaches: Tom Getz and Bob Forgrave.

Vieland, who teaches English at Hempfield, was the team’s offensive coordinator last year after serving as an offensive line coach. Long said nothing was official as far as who would be joining Vieland’s coaching staff.

Vieland grew up about 20 miles outside of Cleveland, and he was an All-Ohio Second-Tam pick as a lineman after his senior season at Chardon High School. He went on to play for Grove City College, a Division 3 program, where he started on the offensive line for three years and was named to the President’s Athletic All-Conference team.