James Chaney was back on the Lehigh football field Tuesday as the head coach of the Lightning, four weeks after being reassigned by the Lee County School District for a professional standards inquiry and five weeks since coaching his last game on the sideline.
“I’m happy to be back,” said Chaney, whose one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct on Sept. 11 against South Fort Myers preceded his larger absence as head coach. “I’ve put all that behind me. And I just want to give these guys a chance.”
Surprisingly enough, Lehigh (2-5, 1-1) is still in the hunt for a playoff position in District 6A-11. The winner of its game against Estero (2-6, 1-1) on Friday will move on to the postseason, which is something the Lightning hasn’t accomplished since 2009.
“If they win, they’re in the playoffs,” Chaney said. “I’m telling them, if they prepare and practice hard and show up and be on time and play to the best of their ability, they can do well in this game.”