CHERRY TWP — Moniteau’s search for a varsity head football coach is over.

Jon McCune, 31, of Fredonia, N.Y., was approved as the Warriors’ new coach by an 8-0-1 vote at Monday night’s school board meeting.

“I’m very happy with the way this turned out,” Moniteau athletic director John Stoughton said. “We got a good man.”

Stoughton said there were 12 applications for the position and “we talked to all 12.”

McCune is a 2012 graduate of Slippery Rock University and will be taking on his first head coaching position. He served as offensive coordinator for a year at Southwestern Central and was an assistant coach for a season at Amherst Central in New York.

While McCune has no family in this area, he wanted to come back to this region.

“I’ve been wanting to come back here,” McCune said. “When I was at SRU, I did some student teaching at Moniteau. I liked the school.

“When I saw that opening, I was definitely applying for it.”

McCune received his degree in health and physical education from SRU, also earning a master’s degree there. While at The Rock, he served as a graduate assistant coach with the football team.

“He did a lot of things for us,” Rock football coach Shawn Lutz said. “This man is very passionate about football. He’s moving his family from New York down here to build a football program.

“They made a good choice. He’ll do the job.”

McCune is beginning a position as clinical manager June 6 at George Junior Republic as well.

“I’ll be counseling kids throughout the day,” he said. “Those coaches at Slippery Rock have had great influence on my career.

“They were great mentors to me. They allowed me to handle a number of roles there and put me in position to become a head coach at a fairly young age.”

While at SRU, McCune assisted then offensive coordinator Phil Longo with the program’s up-tempo offense and plans to being that same style to Moniteau.

“We will go fast-paced, that’s for sure,” McCune said. “What we do from there depends on our personnel and what the defense gives us.

“We may run the ball 40 times in a game or throw it 40 times. But whatever it is, we’ll do it quick.”

Defensively, McCune plans to be multiple.

“I’ve got a 4-3 and 3-4 background in terms of formations, but I’m open to new ideas,” he said.

Much of Moniteau’s football staff plans to return and McCune said he’s looking forward to “sitting down and talking with them.”

“If it turns out we have an opening or two, I’ll see who’s available out there,” he added.

McCune succeeds WadeVogan, who resigned after three seasons to coach his son’s team in Sharon.

“Jon is a very positive person and he’ll bring new ideas to the program,” Stoughton said. “He’s looking forward to meeting the kids and getting to know the community.

“He’ll be a nice fit.”