RAVENSWOOD — It’s nice to have options.

Eric Hupp can attest.

Even when options are presented, following your heart is the easiest — and best — way to make the decision.

Once again, Eric Hupp will agree.

The 1990 Bridgeport High School graduate has been a member of the football coaching staff at Racine Southern in southeast Ohio for the last several seasons. He’s also the guidance counselor and head wrestling coach at Ravenswood.

Both programs needed a football coach and both reached out to Hupp.

Quite simply, it boiled down to “feeling connected.”

And that feeling came from Ravenswood where he resides, his wife and daughters graduated from and where he holds a full-time job.

So, Hupp accepted the position with the Red Devils and was formally approved as the school’s football coach at Thursday’s Board of Education meeting.

“(Ravenswood) is where I wanted to be,” Hupp said during a phone interview. “There are great kids on both sides of the river, but I feel like these are more my kids over here at Ravenswood.”

Hupp had applied for his new position in the past. Now hired, he can’t wait to get started.

“I coached most of these kids in eighth grade and some in the pee wee ranks,” Hupp pointed out. “It’s a great group of kids. I can’t wait to get on the field during our three-week period in June and get started.”

The Red Devils, who have been a perennial entrant in the West Virginia playoffs, are coming off a 5-5 season.

“We have a lot of kids back and we’re keeping the same coaching staff,” Hupp said. “We’re stepping in and filling some big shoes, but we plan to continue to keep the tradition going and contend for LKC championships.”

During his prep days with the Bulldogs, Hupp was a multiple-year standout both in football and wrestling. He then went to West Liberty State College, graduating with a degree in criminal justice.

While with the Hilltoppers, Hupp played football under Bob Eaton.

“One of the biggest influences on me was Coach Roger Myers, who was on the staff when I played at Bridgeport,” Hupp said. “He taught me how to treat people. He always treated us well and really took the time to talk to you and build a relationship. I’ve tried to carry that into working with the kids I’ve coached because that relationship is paramount.

After working a for more than a decade with in a treatment facility near Parkersburg for troubled youth, Hupp completed his master’s degree from Marshall University in family counseling. He also got his school guidance counselor certificate.

“Next school year will be my ninth as the guidance counselor,” Hupp explained. “When I was working on the residential side, I always got the kids after they made their mistakes, so I wanted to be more proactive and catch them before they got themselves in trouble.”

Prior to spending four seasons in Racine, he worked with the middle school team at Ravenswood for a like number of campaigns. The same season in which Hupp was hired at Racine, he also landed the wrestling job.

“At this point, I will continue to be the wrestling coach, too,” Hupp noted. “We’ve come a long way with that program and we’re really starting to build that program.”

Eric and his wife, Chris (Fridley) met at West Liberty and were married in 1995.

“We got married aand I ended up down here in Ravenswood ever since,” Hupp said.

The couple has two children, Erica and Carlee. Erica will be a sophomore at West Liberty in the fall and Carlee is completing her eighth grade year at Ravenswood.