Link
McDaniels seeks new challenge
By JOHN VARGO Tribune Chronicle
The Thom McDaniels era has come and gone.
The successful Warren G. Harding football coach gave his resignation to the Board of Education Tuesday night. It will take effect on Dec. 21.
His contract was set to expire before the year?s end.
He leaves the program after compiling a 63-21 record in seven years ? taking the Raiders to the Division I playoffs five of his seven seasons.
When his teams lost in the playoffs, it was by no means an upset.
This season, they lost to final four participant Mentor. In 2003 and ?04, they lost to St. Edward. In 2003, the Eagles advanced to the state title game. And in 2001, eventual state champion St. Ignatius defeated Harding in the Division I regional title game at the Akron Rubber Bowl.
But McDaniels best season was 2002 when the Raiders played Cincinnati Elder in a blizzard-like conditions for the state championship at Canton?s Fawcett Stadium. However, Harding fell two points short.
McDaniels felt he succeeded as the Raiders coach even though his teams did not corral in a state title.
?I would say off-the-field we surpassed some expectations as far as football players grades, getting kids in school, representing the community, doing things the right way, being a more disciplined team. We surpassed expectations off the field,? he said.
?Other than winning a state championship, which I know is the thing people expect here, we came close. We provided people with winning football. We competed against the best in Ohio. As far as public schools go, only Massillon and Harding can say that. I?m proud of what we?ve done and the games we?ve won. We?ve lost to really good people.?
Another successful public school coach is Canton McKinley?s Brian Cross, a 1970 Warren Western Reserve graduate. His name has been at the forefront as Harding?s new coach since it has been long rumored, now confirmed, that this was McDaniels? final season.
Cross? Bulldogs will play Mentor in a state semifinal Saturday.
??To be honest with you, the only interest I have right now is to finish out our season,?? he said. ??Our kids are playing extremely well. That?s the only think I?m focused on thinking about.??
Does McDaniels have any advice for his successor?
?No, I would imagine the leaders of Warren will fill them in,? he said.
Calls to athletic director Paul Trina seeking comment were not returned.
When McDaniels took the position in 2000, his draw was to the players. That?s what makes this decision so tough on the veteran coach, who led Canton McKinley to a state championship in 1997.
??That?s the toughest part,?? he said. ??The best thing about Warren, Ohio, is the kids. I said that when I got here and I still have a great feeling for them. I will continue to follow their football futures with great interest.??
One such player is senior Dan Herron, a running back who made a verbal commitment to The Ohio State University. Herron was not only one of Ohio?s best prep players to come out of the backfield, but handled himself just a gracefully beyond the turf of Mollenkopf Stadium.
??He always told us, ?There?s always people watching you. You always have to carry yourself with great character,? ?? Herron said. ??... He made sure were were not only great football players, but off-the-field people as well.??
McDaniels even used life lessons on the field. Harding bounced back from a 3-7 campaign to finish 9-4 before losing to Mentor in a regional final.
?He told us to keep fighting and we bounced back,? Herron said. ?By Week 4 or 5, we got it together. That?s from going from 2-2 to the third round of the playoffs.?
It?s that kind of coaching that has McDaniels in such demand elsewhere.
?Every year, someone is offering him a job,? Herron said. ?I don?t think he?ll have to wait too long. I hope he goes somewhere where people appreciate him. He?s a great coach.?
Look for McDaniels to pop up somewhere in the near future.
?I am a coach in search of a team,? he said. ?I?ll be a candidate wherever they are interested in Thom McDaniels. I?m confident I?ll get a position somewhere. I?m determined to coach.?
jvargo@tribune-chronicle.com