Jeff Christy

SAXONBURG — Despite serving as a volunteer assistant football coach at Apollo-Ridge High School last fall, Jeff Christy had to excuse himself on Friday nights.

No more.

The Freeport graduate and longtime NFL center — inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame earlier this year — had a good reason for not joining the Vikings on the sidelines come game night.

“From the day I accepted the opportunity to coach there, it was with the stipulation that I could go watch my son play football on Friday nights,” Christy said. “I wasn't going to miss that.

“But I did feel badly for the Apollo-Ridge kids from a coaching standpoint, not being with them at the games. A big part of football is in-game adjustments and I wasn't there to help with that.”

This year, he will be.

Christy will serve as the volunteer line coach for Knoch this season, the same team his son, junior skilled player-linebacker Mac Christy, suits up for.

“Jeff is a real good fit for us,” Knoch head coach Mike King said. “Obviously, the kids will soak in whatever he teaches. They'll respond to him. He lives nearby and he's got high school coaching experience.”

Christy spent a few years as a volunteer assistant at Freeport before joining Apollo-Ridge and head coach John Skiba last year. Skiba and Christy were teammates at Pitt years ago.

When the Christy family first moved to Saxonburg, Christy contacted King about possibly joining the Knoch staff.

“Their staff was complete at the time,” Christy recalled. “Mike said that whenever an opening popped up, he would give me a call.

That happened this off-season and it all worked out.”

King said Christy”will be a big help” to the Knights this fall, on the practice field and on Friday nights.

“The guy has so much experience and when it comes to technique, who better to learn from?,” King said. “He was a standout player at the highest level.

“I have a good relationship with Coach Skiba at Apollo-Ridge and this move just makes sense. It's closer to home for Jeff and everybody understands that.”

From watching Knoch play every night last season, Christy knows the caliber of player he'll be working with.

“I'm very confident we'll put together a good line,” he said. “The chemistry and cohesiveness of a coaching staff is so important in high school football. Kids see that and follow suit.

“Coach King and his staff have a lot of respect for each other. I feel like I'll fit in well there, too.”

Christy played 10 years in the NFL — seven with Minnesota, three with Tampa Bay — and was a member of the Bucs' Super Bowl championship team in 2001. He was a three-time Pro Bowl player

Now he's happy to be back home.

“Western Pa. football on a Friday night is unbelievable,” Christy said. “To be able to coach and experience practice and games every day with my son ... That's a blessing.”