Coach returns to guide Panthers

Jennings County’s Aug. 14 scrimmage against Brownstown Central brought back a sense of familiarity. It signaled the start of another high school football season and the return of Rick Zimmerman as head coach of the Panthers.

Zimmerman has been a coach for 30 years and a head coach for 15. He was Jennings County’s head coach for seven seasons, from 2002 until 2008, and posted a 17-54 record.

“I’m excited about returning to head coach this year,” he said.

The Panthers feature 25 seniors this year and are hoping to improve on last year’s 1-9 record.

Zimmerman said the hardest part of preparing for a game is making sure all of the fundamentals, such as blocking and tackling, are met. Varsity practices Monday through Thursday and Saturday mornings help the team prepare mentally, he said.

The Panthers opened their season Friday with a home game against Batesville. Their next game is 7 p.m. Friday against the visiting Greensburg Pirates.