Josh Williams

KARNS CITY — Somebody will be missing along the Karns City sidelines this season.

Brian Markle.

The Gremlins' longtime defensive coordinator will still be at the games. He will be there in the capacity of athletic director, however, replacing the retired Tom Wagner.

Markle is the only defensive coordinator KC head coach Ed Conto has ever had. Josh Williams is the new defensive coordinator.

“Yeah, it definitely will be different,” Conto admitted. “But it will also be status quo. Josh has been on our staff for 10 years and has coached with Brian on that side of the ball.”

Williams is accustomed to being upstairs with the headsets on during Friday nights. He is unsure of where he'll be on game nights this year.

“That has yet to be determined,” Williams said. “I'll probably go with what feels the most comfortable. There are advantages to being in the booth or on the sidelines.”

When Markle coached the KC junior high football team 31 years ago, he hired Conto as his assistant. When Conto left to become high school head coach at A-C Valley, he kept in touch with Markle.

“We went hunting together. We were always good friends,” Conto said. “When I took the head coaching job at Karns City, I hired Brian as defensive coordinator.”

The Gremlins have been a stingy bunch ever since. They've allowed 12 points or fewer 13 times in the past two seasons.

“This has been a strong program for a long time,” Williams said. “There's no reason to change much at all. We'll go with the same way we've played defense for years.”

Conto said Markle will still be at the Karns City games as athletic director and has not totally left the program.

“I know he worked with Josh on the transition for quite a while now,” Conto said. “He will always be around for us to pick his brain if need be.

“Josh will tweak the defense in ways that suit him and what he wants to do with it. He has the autonomy to work that side of the ball just like Brian had.”

And Williams will do so — in due time.

“I'll grow into this position. We'll make adjustments along the way,” he said.