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Monday, November 14, 2011
Steve Nolan resigns as Troy’s football coach after 28 seasons
Steve Nolan, the dean of Greater Western Ohio Conference football coaches, resigned from his coaching position Monday.
His leaving after 28 seasons with the Trojans was not unexpected. He would have left several seasons ago but had such a promising class of sophomores that he remained in the position two extra years.
Troy advanced to the Division I, Region 3 playoffs each of the last two seasons. His final Troy team was 8-3, losing 21-20 in overtime at Upper Arlington in the first round.
“We’ve been through a lot over the 28 years here,” he said. “It’s been a great situation for me.”
“We’ve done some things that we thought we could do but at the same time it’s going to be tough for us to move on from this right now. We’ve got a lot of great kids coming back, but at the same time, we’ve got to move on.”
Longtime coordinators Mark Evilsizor (offense) and Scott Brewer (defense) would be seamless fits to take over should Troy hire within the school district. Both had outstanding careers playing for Nolan and each has more than 10 seasons on the Trojans coaching staff.
Nolan has been head of guidance at the high school the last 15 years and plans to remain in that position. He’ll likely take at least one season off before contemplating a return to football. “You never know,” he said.
Nolan’s career record of 202-94 (.682 winning percentage) with the Trojans was good for eight league championships and 11 playoff teams.
Among his more high-profile players were a pair of 1998 grads, Ryan Brewer and Kris Dielman. A running back, Brewer set several all-time state career marks and was chosen Mr. Football following his season. Brewer’s MVP effort or South Carolina in the 2001 Outback Bowl against Ohio State helped seal former Buckeyes’ coach John Cooper’s fate.
Dielman starred at Indiana and has been a perennial All-Pro offensive lineman with the San Diego Chargers.
“It’s always about the kids,” said Nolan.
Piqua’s Bill Nees becomes the GWOC’s longest-running head coach with 19 seasons. But Nolan exits having beaten Piqua the last five seasons. The series is Ohio’s longest at 127 games played since starting in 1899.
“Some people told me (Monday), you still don’t understand this thing,” Nolan said. “We’ve just been fortunate to go against a great coach up there and have some luck. He’s a good guy and that’s a great program.”
Nolan’s notable Trojans
• 2004: DL Todd Denlinger, OSU.
• 1998: RB Ryan Brewer, South Carolina, Ohio’s Mr. Football as a senior.
• 1998: OL/DL Kris Dielman, Indiana, All-Pro with Chargers.
• 1987: RB Mike Delwiche, Boston College.
• 1986: QB Aaron Johnson, Navy.
• 1986: LB Kevin Mescher, Stanford.
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