"It's been a tumultuous two weeks for our family," said LePage. "I sat down and had to make some objective decisions and my family has helped me through that.

"Subjectively, it was hard, but objectively, this was an easy decision to make. My family is for it, so we're going to move forward and go from here."

"(Sunday night), talking to Thomas, my 10-year-old son, he basically said that 'This is as high as you can get in high school, isn't it dad?' I said yes it is. It was exciting to hear that come out of his mouth.

"If you look at the last 50 years, there hasn't been a program in the state of Missouri that rivals Jefferson City. So when I look at it from that standpoint, I can't get any higher if I want to stay where I'm at.

"My desire has always been to be in the NFL. But being a dad and being a husband, that's not allowed me to do that. So this is the highest level I can get to and still be the father and the husband I want to be, and also be around young people and make them better people."

"Two weeks ago, we opened the position to internal applicants and none were forthcoming," Kimble said. "Naturally, rumors of who would be hired and under what circumstances have been lively, to say the least. Now it's time to put those rumors to bed.

"He's also a man who has shown the ability to lead, and a coach known not only for his understanding of the Xs and Os, but of the importance of working with our young people to prepare them for life after high school."

LePage takes the helm of the Class 6 Jays after building Blair Oaks into a state power in Class 2. In five years as head coach, he directed the Falcons to a 48-13 mark, five playoff berths, and the 2004 state championship.

But when Tony Grosso stepped down as head coach of the Jays on Nov. 11, the speculation about LePage's future started. And one week later, when Mike Jeffries was fired as head coach of Helias -- LePage's alma mater -- the speculation swirled almost out of control.

"I've never experienced anything like it," LePage said. "It's amazing how things get started and people make opinions about you without even knowing you.

So the decision was this -- stay at Blair Oaks, where he's beloved, return to his alma mater, or take the reins of the winningest program in state history.

"It was hard, it was very hard, to leave Blair Oaks and leave the people out there," LePage said. "The hardest thing for me was talking to the kids at Blair Oaks. I told them I did not go out looking for a job; I was perfectly content.

LePage is a 1985 graduate of Helias, where he was an all-state quarterback and directed the Crusaders to the state championship his senior year.

"Growing up in this town, you always see the best," said LePage, who played college football for the Missouri Tigers. "When you look at all the programs around, there was nobody better than Jeff City. We just happened to live in the same town.

"There was always that intrigue about Jefferson City. The standard of excellence has been set, not only by the football team, but it's also been set by the faculty and by the staff."

This will be LePage's second stint as a coach with the Jays. He was hired by Pete Adkins in 1993 and served as an assistant for six years, helping the Jays win three state championships.

LePage owns a farm in Cole County and is also employed by Farmers Insurance. He will not be a full-time staff member at the school, but will have a one-hour block assignment that will include overseeing the operations of the football program.

He officially starts the job, which will pay $25,000, next Monday. But he's already named one assistant coach -- ex-Jay standout Lerone Briggs, who was on LePage's staff at Blair Oaks.

"(Starting Monday), I will review everybody who's on the staff and look at individuals who fit the parameters of where I want to go with the program," he said.

"Coach (Vince) Lombardi had a great quote," LePage said. "He said if you don't coach with enthusiasm, you'll get fired with enthusiasm. If I can't get the job done, that needs to happen.

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