The Lakewood Rangers went without a win in high school football last season, ending the season with coach Mike Ribar resigning as head coach.
The program will have a new look next season, as one-time Lorain Catholic head coach Tom Hannan has been named as the new Rangers head football coach.
“I think it’s a great opportunity, it’s a great school system, just a nice community and I’m honored and thrilled to be the next head coach,” Hannan said.
The appointment for Hannan will become official at a board meeting on Monday night in Lakewood.
After spending the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Garrettsville James A. Garfield High School, the 57-year-old Hannan stated the process of becoming the next coach in Lakewood started back in December.
The Rangers spoke to 10 possible candidates, and then sent three names to the Superintendent.
After a second round of interviews, Hannan met last Wednesday with the Superintendent, assistant Superintendent, athletic director and principal, and at that meeting offered him the position of head coach.
He will have his work cut out for him, as the Rangers play in one of the hardest conferences in all of Northeast Ohio, the Southwest Conference.
“The Southwest Conference is probably one the best Division II conferences in the state,” Hannan said. “Five of the 10 teams made the playoffs.”
The Rangers haven’t won a game since their season finale in 2015 against Amherst, and last season were outscored 438 to 146 in going winless.
“The way I look at it is Lakewood is a sleeping giant,” Hannan said. “There’s only one way to go and that’s up. There’s some good skill there, I’m anxious to get over there and meet the kids and meet the parents, and get the offseason program going.”
The longtime coach says he’s a little more ‘old school,’ in his approach, stating he’s an ‘old school Wing-T’ guy that will run multiple Wing-T formations, and at times spread the field.
“I think our running game is going to be better than it’s been in the past,” Hannan said. “I have an uphill battle but I am confident that the kids are there, it’s just a matter of work ethic.”
Hannan is a 1982 Mount Union grad, and in 2018 will celebrate his 35th year in coaching high school football.
He’s been a head football coach at Ledgemont High School in Thompson Township, Lorain Catholic, Crestwood High School in Mantua (16 years), and for one season was the coach at Ridgedale High School in Marion.
Hannan grew up in Lorain country, and went to Brookside High School.
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