Legendary Coach Jim Rockwell Earns OHFSCA Hall of Fame Bid

ZANESVILLE, OH – One of the great coaches, if not the greatest coach in New Lexington, Perry County, and Southeast District history is now a three-time hall of fame inductee.

The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association (OHSFCA) announced its six-member 2027 hall of fame class on Friday, headlined by none other than long time New Lexington fixture, Jim Rockwell Sr.

Rockwell led the New Lexington football program for the better part of two decades from 1959-1976, amassing 144 career wins. He led the team to two Class AA AP/UPI poll state championships, he coached three unbeaten teams, ten Muskingum Valley League championship teams (including eight straight), and was a three-time Southeastern Ohio Coach of the Year.

In addition to his football coaching exploits, he spent fourteen years coaching track and field, as well as basketball for an additional five. Rockwell then moved on to become the high school’s athletic director from 1965 to 1976 while still coaching all three sports.

In 1984, New Lexington named its football stadium after the legendary coach and athletic director, which still holds to this day as “Jim Rockwell Stadium”.

Rockwell is now a three-time hall of fame inductee. after being inducted into the Ohio Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1984, the New Lexington Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005, and now the OHSFCA officially recognizes one of the all-time greats.

Rockwell will be posthumously inducted in the summer of 2027 along with Phil Faires from Trimble High School, Jim Mayzes from Sylvania Southview High School, Bob Maltarich from West Holmes High School, Ron Ullery from Centerville High School, and Scott Pollock from Mogadore High School.