11-time Ohio high school football state champion begins national search for new head coach

After the legendary Chuck Kyle stepped down as the head coach at St. Ignatius (Ohio) after the 2022 campaign, the following three seasons from 2023-2025 have been well below the standard of what the program expects on the high school football level. On Monday, one of Ohio high school football’s more storied programs has opened up its head coaching position in hopes of returning to the glory days.

According to a report by Cleveland.com, former Ohio State standout Ryan Franzinger has stepped down as the head coach at St. Ignatius and the school is now opening up a national search to find its next lead man of the football program. The school said in a press release that their hopes are to fill the position before the end of the calendar year.

“The school expresses its sincerest gratitude to Coach Franzinger, who will remain on staff as a theology teacher, for his dedication and service to the football program and for his unwavering commitment to the school’s mission,” St. Ignatius issued in a press release per the report. “In the coming days, Saint Ignatius High School will launch a national search for the next Head Varsity Football Coach. Interested candidates should email the school at [email protected]. The position will remain open until filled, with the hope of being filled by the end of the calendar year.”

Kyle during his 40 years as the Wildcats head coach went 353-90-1 and led the program to 11 state championships, with the last one being won back in 2011 when St. Ignatius went 13-2 and defeated Pickerington Central, 34-13, for the OHSAA Class Division I crown.

Franzinger wasn’t able to capture the same success of his predecessor, finishing with an 5-29 overall record as lead man of the Wildcats. This past Ohio high school football season for St. Ignatius was the most difficult of them all, with the program finishing at 1-10.

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