[SWC_fan]

I found out yesterday that coach Dave Dlugosz is retiring from Avon Lake football. He leaves with a 200-44 record, 18 Southwestern Conference Titles, 15 playoff appearances, Div. II State Championship in 2003, Div.II State Runner-up in 2004, Several Div.II AP Poll Champions, and inducted into the Ohio High School Coaches Hall of Fame.

Here are some articles:

http://highschoolsports.cleveland.co...is-retirement/

http://www.ohioprepzone.com/morningj...ts.asp?ID=4770

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2...sons-200-wins/


Dlugosz did 7-3 or better each season. Breakdown of teams from the Southwestern Conference:
17-4 vs. Amherst (not counting a playoff game against them)
11-2 vs. Bay
13-0 vs. Rocky River
13-0 vs. Fairview
20-1 vs. North Olmsted
20-1 vs. Westlake
14-7 vs. Olmsted Falls (not counting 2 playoff games against them)
5-3 vs. Brecksville
8-0 vs. Berea
8-0 vs. Midpark

20-14 in the playoffs
5 Regional Runner-ups in 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, and 2005.

There so many great games during those years in conference and playoff games and playing against some good coaches too like Jeff Riesen( Who Dlugosz replaced and coached against him when Riesen was at Amherst), Jim Ryan( rumor that he may be retirng soon), Tom Watts, Vern Long, and many others.
He will be missed at Avon Lake. He was the best coach ever.
Share your thoughts orcomments.

[croprunner]

Does that mean that Larry Laird becomes the next great from Avon Lake?

[19AL63]

Rumor has it it will come from the inside just have not said who. Thought Dave might stay another year or so with Avon lake going back to somewhere in the middle of Division II. A group of 12 Starters are also coming back which is a very high number for Avon Lake. Every good thing comes to an end and Dave Dlugosz was the best of good things.

[old_a_l_guy]

It's pretty much a done deal that Larry Laird will take over.

Larry came to A.L. in 2002 from Kenton -- when Ben Mauk was there -- the most wide open, never heard of a running back or tight end offense anywhere. By the time Larry took the head coach job at Medina, Dave had pretty much converted him. Larry ran the same offense at Medina that the Shoremen have run for all these years. He's a great choice to replace Dave.

[eaglefan]

It always easier to pick who you know, but I hope Tommy takes the time to field applicants to seek out the best candidate.

[styx]

If it's not broke don't fix it! I'd still open it up for outside applicants to see who's on the table for a great job like this but I hope that the coordinators get special consideration and 1 of them ends up taking ownership of the program.