Stark County Prep Press: August 2025

Coaches break bread & commiserate before the start of a new season

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

CANTON--19 of the sharpest Stark County football coaching minds faced each other at the St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox church inside the Alex Krassas event center.

In two weeks, each of them will be attempting to prove their teams are better than the other on the football field in competition.

Wednesday night, those same 19 coaches came together to break bread and commiserate with each other before the commencing of another prep football season. With two new head coaches joining the fraternity and three schools obtaining new head coaches, along with 10 playoff qualifiers from last season, it will make for another interesting season as the road to Canton's Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium has officially arrived.

Here are a list of the 19 teams and their respective outlook on the upcoming 2025 season.

ALLIANCE AVIATORS

Head coach: Tim Goodman.

Years at school: 5.

Last season's record: 4-6.

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Coach's outlook: "We have 81 kids in grades 9-12 and they are on the rise. We had a young team last year and they learned a lesson on how to play tough football. We have a tough schedule this year and it will be a fun year."

Alliance head coach Tim Goodman. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

CANTON SOUTH WILDCATS

Head coach: Matt Dennison.

Years at school: 5.

Last season's record: 4-7 (Division IV first round playoff).

Returning lettermen: 21.

Coach's outlook: "I love coaching the game because it teaches us grit. We had a great offseason and we will have a good balance between speed and physicality. We return eight defensive starters and nine offensive starters."

Canton South head coach Matt Dennison. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

CENTRAL CATHOLIC CRUSADERS

Head coach: Jeff Lindesmith.

Years at school: 12.

Last season's record: 5-6 (Division V first round).

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Coach's outlook: "We graduated 20 seniors. We currently have 51 players in the program with six seniors. We are a young team and that's not a bad thing. We have a lot of sophomores and juniors and they will have to learn the game quick. They are coachable and will practice hard and play hard."

Central Catholic head coach Jeff Lindesmith. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

EAST CANTON HORNETS

Head coach: John "Spider" Miller.

Years at school: 10.

Last season's record: 3-7.

Returning lettermen: 16.

Coach's outlook: "We return nine offensive starters and eight defensive starters and our kids have been working hard in the weight room. We have experience that is great and the kids are working hard."

East Canton head coach John "Spider" Miller. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

FAIRLESS FALCONS

Head coach: A.J. Sarbaugh.

Years at school: 8.

Last season's record: 4-7 (Division V first round).

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Coach's outlook: "We have 50 kids in the program and most of their dads, brothers, and cousins have played Fairless football so they want to represent the program well. We open up with Sandy Valley and then we have five straight road games. Our last three games are against Stark County schools, Canton South, Northwest, and Tuslaw."

Fairless head coach A.J. Sarbaugh. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

GLENOAK EAGLES

Head coach: Scott Garcia.

Years at school: 17.

Last season's record: 1-9.

Returning lettermen: 28.

Coach's outlook: "We played a lot of young players that took their lumps last season. Our offseason went well in the weight room. We return nine offensive starters and nine defensive starters."

GlenOak head coach Scott Garcia. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

NORTH CANTON HOOVER VIKINGS

Head coach: Brian Baum Sr.

Years at school: 11.

Last season's record: 6-5 (Division II first round).

Returning lettermen: 16.

Coach's outlook: "We had a great offseason. We had guys competing to get into the weight room and currently have 76 guys on the roster. We return five defensive starters and six offensive starters."

North Canton Hoover head coach Brian Baum Sr. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

JACKSON POLAR BEARS

Head coach: Jay Rohr.

Years at school: 4.

Last season's record: 8-4 (Division I second round, Co-Federal League champions).

Returning lettermen: 18.

Coach's outlook: "The offseason went wonderful. I am blessed to be here at Jackson High School. We graduated 41 seniors last year and as coaches we have to find the right guys and get them ready to play. We have 183 kids through grades 9-12. The Federal League will be tough again."

Jackson head coach Jay Rohr. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

LAKE BLUE STREAKS

Head coach: Dan DeGeorge.

Years at school: 13.

Last season's record: 7-5 (Division II second round).

Returning lettermen: 19.

Coach's outlook: "We have five offensive starters returning and five defensive starters returning. We are going to be more athletic than what we were in the past. We had a great offseason and are proud of how the kids have brought into that."

Lake head coach Dan DeGeorge. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS

Head coach: Chris Kappas.

Years at school: 3.

Last season's record: 4-6.

Returning lettermen: 13.

Coach's outlook: "We have really good continuity with our staff. We have a tough schedule that will test us. We have taken positive steps in the right direction. We are going to be pretty balanced with our depth. Our biggest class will be our sophomore class. This is the most fun I have had with this team in the three years here.

Louisville head coach Chris Kappas. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

MARLINGTON DUKES

Head coach: Joe Cardinal.

Years at school: 3.

Last season's record: 2-8.

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Coach's outlook: "We have a lot of guys returning and our defense is stacked and will be for the next five to six years."

Marlington head coach Joe Cardinal. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

MASSILLON TIGERS

Head coach: Nate Moore.

Years at school: 11.

Last season's record: 11-3 (Division II regional finalist).

Returning lettermen: 24.

Coach's outlook: "We play a very aggressive schedule with nine home games and open up against Cleveland Glenville in week 1 and they have two Ohio State commits and as a team they have speed to burn each year. We have eight starters returning and three offensive starters back. We are a very young team that is young and hungry and they have a lot to prove."

Massillon head coach Nate Moore. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

CANTON MCKINLEY BULLDOGS

Head coach: Renzy Parnell.

Years at school: 1.

Last season's record: 8-5 (Division I regional semifinalist, Co-Federal League champions).

Returning lettermen: 19.

Coach's outlook: "I am super excited as the kids are buying into what we have built. They are well behaved. We will open up against Warren G. Harding, St. Augustine Prep (NJ) and Cleveland Heights. Then we go into league play and conclude with week 10."

Canton McKinley head coach Renzy Parnell. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

MINERVA LIONS

Head coach: Zach Slates.

Years at school: 1.

Last season's record: 1-9.

Returning lettermen: 17.

Coach's outlook: "We have 14 seniors and players who will bust their butt in the weight room."

Minerva head coach Zach Slates. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

NORTHWEST INDIANS

Head coach: John DeMarco.

Years at school: 6.

Last season's record: 9-3 (Division IV second round)

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Coach's outlook: "We have 21 seniors in a large class. We have a lot of returning letterwinners and a lot of shoes to fill."

Northwest head coach John DeMarco. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

PERRY PANTHERS

Head coach: Spencer Leno.

Years at school: 1.

Last season's record: 6-6 (Division II second round).

Returning lettermen: 13.

Coach's outlook: "We have 90 kids from freshman to senior and good numbers. They are a very focused group with a blue collar mentality. They come in and punch the clock every day and get after it. Players know to do their jobs whether it is offense, defense, or special teams."

Perry head coach Spencer Leno. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS KNIGHTS

Head coach: Kevin Henderson.

Years at school: 3.

Last season's record: 1-9.

Returning lettermen: 24.

Coach's outlook: "Our goals remain the same. One, beat our rival. Two, qualify for the playoffs. And finally, win a state championship."

St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Kevin Henderson. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

SANDY VALLEY CARDINALS

Head coach: Brian Gamble.

Years at school: 9.

Last season's record: 5-5.

Returning lettermen: 12.

Coach's outlook: "We return six offensive starters and five defensive starters. Overall we have 40 guys on the roster. We had a strong offseason where guys put in a lot of good work."