High school football 2024: Change new for some programs, par for the course for others

The coaching carousel was spinning in Lorain County once again this offseason, creating some more intrigue around the upcoming season as four new faces take over programs. It's not as many as last year when there were five new coaches, but the storylines are certainly there: two programs with at least their second coach in as many seasons, a coach returning to a role he never got to fulfill and one of the area's best to ever do it stepping down after almost two decades. Matt Wilson was named head coach at Elyria in late February, replacing Brian Fox, who lasted one season after coming over from Elyria Catholic, while Oberlin named its fourth coach in four seasons with Kenny Washington making the jump from Lorain assistant to head coach. Meanwhile, after Damion Creel resigned from his post at Lorain to take the head coaching spot at Euclid, a familiar name resurfaced. In late January, the Titans announced James Boyeas would take over as head coach at Lorain, a title he was given in 2020 before the season eventually was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, when longtime Columbia coach Jason Ward stepped down late last year after 18 years on the job, the Raiders didn't have to look far for his replacement, promoting Mike Rice, the Raiders' defensive coordinator the past nine seasons. But he's got quite the shoes to fill. Ward ranks seventh on the all-time Lorain County coaching wins list with 135. Avon Lake's Dave Dlugosz tops that list with 214. Ward, who took over as Columbia's athletic director, compiled a record of 135-62 (a nearly 70 percent winning percentage),h won eight conference titles, had six seasons with at least 10 wins, was named a conference coach of the year nine times — the list goes on. Rice, however, isn't daunted by that legacy, he's simply happy to continue it. "He was such a great coach and mentor and friend to work for and to have and to learn from," Rice said of Ward. "So, taking over, I understand there's big shoes to fill, but at the same time, I'm not going to try to be him. I really try not to focus on that. We're just trying to take each day one day at a time and one season at a time, and this is just the new version of the Columbia Raiders. … That's what we're doing — just trying to come together as the 2024 unit of the Columbia Raiders." And he's already seeing that new version take shape. Throughout the preseason, Rice said the seniors have stepped into their leadership roles and, like most small-school teams, the group has gotten closer as the summer progresses. "We're a tight-knit group," Rice said. "I think we're going to try and establish a strong defensive football team that can run the football and battle when things get tough." "I'm really happy with how some of our seniors are starting to step up. Gage Maruna had himself a really good camp and has looked good at quarterback. Our offensive and defensive lines really excite me, too. They have some experience … and they bring an element that, as much as I believe in a strong defense, I also believe in having strong front lines and being strong up front to having a successful football team. I feel like we have that. If we can stay healthy and go with guys like Chase Voge and Nate Chapman up front, Mason Goodman and Dan Maiorino are two more, we have some experience up there and we're going to go as far as they take us." While the transition at Columbia has been fairly seamless, Elyria is more or less starting from scratch as the Pioneers feature almost an entirely new look. Wilson inherits a program that went 1-10 last year under first-year coach Fox. The last time the Pioneers won just a single game was 2019 before then-coach Devlin Culliver led them to the playoffs in 2021 and 2022. With the disappointment of last season in the past, Wilson's focus now is on the basics and building a strong program from there. "When I took over, we only retained two coaches from the old staff, so there's a whole bunch of new voices in the room," he said. "There just wasn't a lot of structure — a lot of coaches talk about the process, but truly (the players) didn't understand the process. These kids love to run out and play the game, but they weren't ready to do the whole process to prepare, to actually give themselves a chance. … The talent always was greater than the result. I think part of that is just learning how to be process-driven rather than results-driven. That's the big change we're trying to get to is that every day is important, not just Friday." The varsity numbers aren't great this year, yet another challenge the Pioneers will have to overcome, but the program has fielded a freshman team for the first time in three years with 25 on the roster, something Wilson points to when he talks about Elyria football "moving in the right direction." The return of senior running back Kevin Jordan also gives Elyria an immediate advantage. Jordan rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, and has been key to implementing Wilson's process-driven approach. "I think I'm getting some good buy-in in terms of what we're asking them to do and their ability to try and perform and execute that," Wilson said. "It's always tough when you have a new coach because you have new language and new methods and new ways to practice and new expectations and all those different things. But I think the kids have responded really well." Washington faces a similar challenge at Oberlin — new staff, low numbers — and is tasked with turning around a program that has won three games since 2019. The Phoenix have looked to more experienced coaches in the past but are now trying a new approach with Washington in his first stint as a head coach after two years as the linebackers coach at Lorain, his alma mater. "I think the program needs a young, energetic coach who gets the kids," Washington told the Chronicle in February. "I've had the opportunity to work in the district and get to know their kids and that is what attracted me to this position." "They have had some down years, but I believe every kid deserves a chance at football. We have some mountains to climb but, being a younger coach, I can commit that time to turn it around. I have a strong dedication to these kids." Finally, at Lorain, the season is an opportunity to finish what never started. After the cancellation of the 2020 season, Boyeas did not return as the Titans head coach. Creel eventually was hired, and after going 3-18 in his first two seasons, he led the Titans to a Lake Erie League championship last year before a first-round playoff loss to GlenOak. With Creel taking the head coaching position at Euclid, that opened the door for Boyeas to finally get his shot. "I've never left the building or the district even while coaching at North Olmsted," Boyeas, who has been the offensive coordinator at North Olmsted the last two seasons, told the Chronicle in late January. "I love being at Lorain, I love being a part of the kids' lives and being there to support them or promote them in any way. "I know I can relate to kids of diverse backgrounds and different socioeconomic backgrounds. When we're able to get the trust of the kids, the sky is the limit, and I think we're going to be able to do some special things." Contact Marissa McNees at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.