After 25 years with the Highlands High School Football Program, including seven seasons as head coach, Brian Weinrich announced his departure from the team. During his seven seasons, he held a 51-36 record.

     Weinrich is a 1990 Highlands graduate and was on the 1989 state football team. He then went on to play college football at Campbellsville University. After his schooling, he returned to Fort Thomas and began coaching freshman football at Highlands. Former Highlands football coach Dale Mueller even considered Weinrich to be his “right-hand man” when he was the defensive coordinator. Weinrich was eventually announced head coach in 2014.

     Weinrich’s daughter, senior Kenzie Weinrich, is very proud of her father’s accomplishments through the years and the bonds he made with the team and its players. 

     “My dad is everything a man should want to be. The outpour[ing] of love and support from the players and parents that had been shown to him demonstrates what Highlands is going to miss,” Weinrich said. “…The time that he would dedicate to the players is unreal and goes so unnoticed, and it shows that he would do anything for any of them. As far as the future, I️ am so excited where he will land next because he will accomplish great things wherever he is.”

     A rumored coaching change had already been going around when Weinrich informed his players on Tuesday that he would not be returning for his eighth season as head coach.

     Senior Jason Noe, wide receiver for Highlands, felt a change may happen, but always knew that Weinrich was not to blame for their seasons. “Obviously there are always rumors about a possible coaching change, but I did not know that it was going to happen until it actually happened. Weinrich puts his all into this program and the people on the outside only see the outcomes of games.”

     Weinrich led Highlands to the class 4A state championship for his first season in 2014. The Bluebirds posted a 13-2 record and defeated district rival Covington Catholic twice on their way to the 2014 state title. During the next six seasons, though, Highlands compiled a record of 38-34. The Bluebirds also suffered a pair of losing seasons (3-8 in 2016 and 5-6 in 2020) and never challenged for a state title. However, even with some setbacks throughout the years, Weinrich has become one of the team’s biggest role models, considered a “football genius” in the state of Kentucky, and has been greatly appreciated for his dedication to the team.

     Noe continued, “For the future of Highlands Football, I hope they find a new coach who’s ready to have fun with a lot of talent coming up. I expect big things in the coming years.”