Rejuvenated Adam Mathieson ready to sit in Camas High School football captain's chair

Many might shriek, but Adam Mathieson has no such issues following recent state-winning legends in coaching.

For starters, he knows that when great coaches step down, they traditionally leave the program in better shape than when first inherited.

And Mathieson, 47, has that now in his new football-coaching gig - Camas High School.

In fact, Mathieson - who was announced Wednesday as the replacement for Jack Hathaway (2022-23) - sees many similarities between the Papermakers' position under the shadow of two-time state championship coach Jon Eagle and the first head-coaching job he had in 2003 replacing hall-of-famer Vic Randall at Ferndale.

"I didn't know 20 years ago how special it was to be in one of those places where the high school was the hub," Mathieson said. "To get back and experience that now ... I feel like I am home."

It also helps that Mathieson has had both a competitive view as the former 15-year coach at Mountain View and a behind-the-scenes view of Camas football after spending last season as a Papermakers' assistant coach under Hathaway.

After he resigned as a coach and administrator from Mountain View last April, he took a job as a counselor and athletic administrator at Camas - and volunteered to help with the football team.

Camas won the 4A GSHL but was ousted in the first round of the WIAA playoffs by Mount Si.

"I felt like I was a decent assistant coach because I knew what the head coach was going through," Mathieson said.

After Hathaway resigned after two seasons in January, Mathieson threw his name in the hat - and was hired to be the program's next leader. Hathaway will remain on staff in a support role. Mathieson said.

The team brings back 14 returning starters next fall, but will have to replace four of five senior offensive linemen.

"The fabric of Camas football is very real," Mathieson said. "And it never really changes."