The Parkland football program appointed a familiar face to the vacant head coaching position, welcoming former defensive coordinator Tim Moncman to the helm. He was approved at a board meeting last week.

It’s been a few years since the former Liberty High School head coach has been at the head of a program. It is a position he didn’t know he would get back into. But after talks with his family, and the retiring of Trojan head coach Jim Morgans, the time was right for Moncman to step forward once again.

“It’s been seven years,” Moncman said. “When I stepped down the last time, my kids were young, especially [10-year old son] AJ. The biggest thing, when Jim stepped down, the first people I went to was family. My wife, my daughter, my son all said go for it. Especially AJ. He’s become such a big part of the program with the kids. I think he was the biggest supporter. He was like, ‘Dad you gotta do it. You gotta do it!’”

The 2016 season will be the first for Moncman as a head coach since 2009, when he led Liberty to the state title. The Freedom and Lafayette grad stepped down after the season to spend more time with his family. Since then, he has spent two years as a defensive coordinator at Wilson and four at Parkland.

But if there was any time to take a promotion, it is right now and with this team.

“It made it a lot easier being here for four years,” Moncman said. “The relationships the players developed with AJ, he’s part of the team. He’s part of the family. That was a big factor in deciding to get back into it. I knew it was the right time.”

Moncman has coached in more state championships over the last 11 seasons than any other coach in the Lehigh Valley. He also led his Liberty teams to state title games in 2005 and 2006 before winning it all in 2008.

“No. 1, you have to have talent,” he said. “Every team that I’ve gone to the state title with, when I was a head coach or an assistant, had a lot of talent. Then it’s a matter of surrounding yourself with knowledgeable coaches and a lot of luck. You can’t have any injuries and certain things happen. Sometimes things go your way.”

During his 11-year head coaching tenure with the Hurricanes, Moncman compiled an 88-36 record. He was the head coach at Southern Lehigh before that.

Besides the exits of co-offensive coordinators Frank Lane and Chris Kinane from Morgan’s staff, Moncman is hoping to keep many of the coaches that have been involved with the program that last couple of years.

Former Wilson head coach Bret Comp, who coached wide receivers last year, will take over as offensive coordinator. Moncman will still look after the defense.

“Since I came over to Parkland, the staff has been unbelievable,” he said. “Losing Frankie [Lane] hurts a lot.

“I was really just enjoying myself coaching. I saw the type of kids we have, the support from the administration and from the school. I thought it’s a place I’d like to be. Hopefully I’ll be here for a long time.”