By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City High School is turning to a familiar face with a proven resume to “go in a different direction” with its football program.
Wade Maddox, who has a championship pedigree in a variety of sports experiences with the Tornadoes, has been named the new head football coach of the Purple and Gold.
Maddox, a former defensive coordinator with the Twisters on three different state championship squads, will replace Nick Markle, who resigned today after six seasons at the UCHS helm.
Markle was 45-26 during his Tornado tenure. He led Union City to three straight state quarterfinal appearances and a pair of 10-win campaigns before posting a 3-7 mark in an injury-plagued 2025 season that ended last week. It marked the first time since 2004 that the Twisters have failed to qualify for the postseason.
In addition to his championship seasons with the football program, Maddox has rejuvenated the UCHS track program over the last few years – winning a boys’ Class 1A state title this past season after a state runner-up finish in 2024. The Union City girls’ team has posted three Top 10 state finishes during that time as well.
He also piloted the Lady Tornado softball program to the state tournament in 2015 during a three-year stint in charge of the program. Included during that time were the two winningest seasons in program history.
“Coach Maddox has a proven record in every sport he’s been involved with at our school,” Union City High School Principal/Athletic Director Jacob Cross said. “He’s a tireless worker and has tackled every challenge he’s been given with tenacity. He gets the best out of student-athletes in all settings, and we believe he is the right person to take us in a different direction with our football program.”
Maddox will continue to serve as the school’s head girls’ and boys’ track coach and will also still shoulder some assistant athletic director clerical duties.
“I’m going to bring a lot of energy and I’m going to be encouraging to our kids,” the new Tornado skipper said. “I’m an enthusiastic guy and a hard worker. It’s my goal to outwork the other guy every day.
“All of our championship teams in every sport at Union City have been built on grinders. Our kids may not be the most talented, but we were willing to outwork the other guys and willing to do what it takes to win. That’s what I intend us to be. Hard work will be valued. We’re going to get back to the mentality of grinding at all times.
“I believe in accountability. That includes players and coaches, and certainly, me. I want us to be a disciplined football team, and I want to win at the fundamentals every day. There are some things that happen that you have to live with, but I want us to control the things we can control.”
Maddox said he’ll begin to put together his staff in the coming weeks and get things in place for the program’s offseason.