Paul James could have taken early retirement from Cedar Rapids Washington High School four years ago when he turned 55.

The Cedar Rapids school district was ready to throw a good chunk of money his way, along with health benefits and other goodies, but he simply was not interested.

"I didn't want to be one of those guys that retires and then they have to go out and find a job," he said Monday. "When I retire I want to enjoy it."

Instead of trimming his work load, James has eagerly increased the number of hats he wears at Washington as he begins his 38th straight year with the Warriors. He's an Associate Principal, Activities Director and the new football coach.

Actually, James is the new/old football coach. He served as the head coach for 11 years from 1995 through 2005 before stepping aside to become the activities director, but when Tony Lombardi resigned this spring he was ready to blow the whistle again.

He's a youthful 59, filled with enthusiasm and excitement as he begins the task of uniting the Washington community after Lombardi helped split it apart.

"As long as I enjoy what I'm doing, I'm going to keep doing it," he said. "I don't have a timeline on it. We'll just see how this goes.

"The main thing is getting Warrior football back on track in terms of bringing people together and things like that."

Lombardi had a successful record at Washington, filled with playoff berths and upset victories, but his style divided the community into pro-Lombardi and anti-Lombardi camps, culminating in a year-long investigation by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners that has filed four charges against the former head coach.

Lombardi and his family are leaving town for the West Des Moines Valley school district. He'll work in private business, his five kids will go to school there and James will try to put the pieces back together following a 3-6 campaign in 2012.

James said things are going well.

"We had a good summer. We had a good commitment out of our kids, in the weight room and on the field," he said Monday morning as official preseason drills began.

"There's a lot of new stuff. We're doing things differently. So that's the encouraging thing, that the kids are receptive and they're working hard."

There's precious little experience on offense, there's not much depth, half the staff is new and the Mississippi Valley Conference has few pushovers. Undaunted, the Warriors are optimistic about the 2013 campaign.

"We want a winning record, definitely, and get to the playoffs, because we didn't get there last year, and make a run in the playoffs," Clayton Bjornsen, one of the captains, said during a break in practice Monday.

"I think we can do good if we do what we're supposed to and execute the plays," said Jake Bjornsen, Clayton's cousin and another captain. "I think we have the talent. We just have to put it together and learn the new plays."

Neither of the two quarterbacks, Reid Snitker or Anthony Rodriguez-Bleakley, has thrown a pass in a varsity game. Mitch Blades graduated, 2012 backup Reagan Wilson moved away and freshman Rocky Lombardi, who worked with the varsity this summer and might have won the job, has left for West Des Moines with his family.

Snitker or Rodriguez-Bleakley will be the man when Washington meets Kennedy in the season opener Aug. 30 at Kingston Stadium.

"They're going to fight for that spot," said James. "Both of those kids are good athletes and they're learning. You have to have a certain amount of patience. We'll be all right."

There's a similar lack of experience at running back. Jake Vial is the top returning running back with one carry for nine yards. Sophomore Johnny Dobbs and junior Mason Taylor, who played sophomore ball in 2012, are the leading candidates in the backfield.

"We have some solid backs, I think," said James.

James has made changes in the playbook, creating more work for the fullback and tight end. It's not exactly "old style" football, but it's not the pistol, either.

"We're learning a lot of stuff," said Clayton Bjornsen, who caught 17 passes last year and also plays in the defensive backfield. "It's a transition, but a lot of things are the same, some things are different."

Lombardi was a colorful, flamboyant coach who won games. James is a low-key, businesslike coach who also won a bunch of games, leading the Warriors to the state finals in 2003.

"It's just different," said Clayton Bjornsen about the two coaches. "You can't say one is better or worse. They're just different, and they're good in their own ways."

"James likes the running game, more than Lombardi," offered Jake Bjornsen, a strong safety and slot receiver, "but I think we'll do well either way, if we're running or passing."

The Warriors have some stats to offer on defense. Jake Bjornsen led the team in tackles last season with 80 stops, including 61 solo tackles. Connor Vincent was third with 57 tackles and Snitker was fifth with 45, so the defense could be ahead of the offense at this point.

Regardless of how it shakes out, the Warriors will be a little different this year.

"We'll go back to utilizing a tight end and a fullback," said James. "The run game will be a part of our game plan. We have the ability to spread people out and go one-back and do all that kind of stuff.

"We've got some young kids, and at our skill positions I think we've got some talent. It's just going to be how they do when we get in the fight."

Washington compiled a 15-2 record in 7-on-7 games this summer against other schools.

"That doesn't mean a whole lot, but it does mean our kids were competitive and they enjoyed competing," said James. "We were able to pass and catch and play some defense."

The Warriors have approximately 45 players on the varsity squad, which is not a lot for a Class 4A school. "Obviously you always like to have big numbers, but that's kind of what we were expecting," said James.

"I think we'll have a respectable run game. And I think the defense is a strong point. Depth will be a concern, and you always hope you don't get injuries."

James has not set any lofty goals for 2013.

"Right now, it's just get better every day you step on the practice field," he said. "Work hard and some of those things will take care of themselves."

More than anything, James likes the way the team and community have responded to the change in coaches.

"The kids seem to have responded," he said. "The people in the community seem to be stepping up."