Oliver Lucas is the right person, at the right time, to take over George Rogers Clark High School football team.

Lucas was hired last week and said all the right things with his standout point being that he is about teaching student athletes to be quality young people who can win on the field and in life. The focus on meeting the individual needs of his players, which in turn will build a stronger team, is a concept that bodes well for success.

No one can question the man’s coaching pedigree.

As a high school coach, Lucas has amassed an impressive 173-73 record while winning four state titles as a head coach or assistant. As a college assistant, he was part of two Big 8 title teams, one national championship team and one Orange Bowl win.

Perhaps even more impressive is Lucas’ record as an educator.

The coach has a bachelors degree in biology, a masters degree in education administration and a doctorate in leadership and management. He has received a variety of honors for his work in the classroom, including twice being named “Teacher of the Year.”

His philosophy on teambuilding, promoting camaraderie among the players and exposing students to new experiences — such as a trip to a college campus — is refreshing.

For many of these students, a visit to a local college to see what it takes to compete at the next level and how to build a foundation for a successful life could be absolutely eye-opening.

Lucas will certainly have his work cut out for him as he takes over a team that has had just one win the past two seasons and doesn’t currently have a true home stadium.

We applaud the man for embracing these challenges and for realizing this adversity doesn’t change anything.

It is a realistic expectation for the team to be competitive immediately. New facilities are on the horizon and the team will return a number of players that will face a far more manageable schedule in 2017.

We hope to see excitement build over the next eight months, with the community embracing the new coach and his players.

Football Fridays in Clark County could soon be special once again.