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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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Comments
By Jim Buck
November 14, 2011 11:33 PM | Link to this
From the Class of ‘88, thanks for the ride coach!
By JJ
November 15, 2011 4:06 AM | Link to this
Ryan Brewer’s performance in the ‘01 Outback Bowl DID NOT help “seal” John Cooper’s fate. That was determined well before that game. It is an oft repeated lie by those who felt Brewer was dissed by not being offered a scholarship to play at OSU.
By slag
November 15, 2011 8:19 AM | Link to this
JJ, Must you be so naive, son? Had RB not totally and individually beat OSU himself then maybe OSU wins that game, the players don’t act like fools after (which was a large part), and Cooper actually wins a bowl game.
By Vickie Lucas
November 15, 2011 9:59 AM | Link to this
Thank you, coach Nolan for all you’ve done for the students, the athletes with your guidance and the community of Troy.
By STEVEN1969
November 15, 2011 10:20 AM | Link to this
@jj.You know there is no i in team.Its a game played by collage kids.You are not going to win all the time.you win some you lose some.Thats how its played.So im guessing you like michigan.go blue.
By GooseListwan
November 15, 2011 10:42 AM | Link to this
LOOKOUT JJ, it’s a big conspiracy! From the old GMVC, this T-Bolt says thanks.
By caroline
November 15, 2011 1:57 PM | Link to this
It would have been nice to know — and it’s an obvious question — if Scott Brewer and Ryan Brewer are related. It would be nice if the DDN reported and edited a little more professionally.
By No_one
November 25, 2011 11:26 PM | Link to this
Ryan is Scott’s younger brother. John Cooper got fired because he couldn’t beat Michigan, and continuously got beat by good players from Ohio he failed to recruit…Curtis Enis, Charles Woodson, KiJana Carter, the list goes on. Brewer was 100 times better than Jesse Kline from UA who got a scholarship.