Comments | Tell a Friend | Larger Text | Smaller Text | Bookmark and Share

Local Sports

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Prep Football: Leonard named Arlington coach

Royal Buffet Findlay
By MARK HEIMAN

STAFF WRITER

ARLINGTON — Dick Leonard gave a little chuckle.

"Maybe I'm the new old coach," Leonard said Tuesday evening, a day after being named Arlington's head football coach by the school's board of education.

Leonard certainly is a familiar face at Arlington. After all, he's been stalking the football sidelines for 25 years there.

Leonard began his Arlington football coaching career while doing his student teaching at the school. And he's never left, the football ranks or as a teacher as he is in his 24th year as an educator.

"I've never been anywhere else," said Leonard, also a co-athletics director at the school. "I'm lucky because the community accepted me and embraced me.

"Now I have the board's blessing to be the football coach."

Leonard, who previously was Arlington's baseball coach for 15 years, will take over for Doug Oates, who led the Red Devils to a 10-3 mark last year. Oates was 35-18 in five seasons.

Last year's 10-3 mark represented Arlington's first trip to the playoffs, despite having an overall record of 546-228-39 since 1909.

"I felt it was important to have a smooth transition. I hoped for the easiest transition for kids, because it's all about the kids," Leonard said. "I don't plan to change a whole lot, because what we have done has been successful."

"The first order of business is to assemble a good staff. I'm hoping to keep some of it intact. But football is so big that you have to put together a good staff."

Leonard should know. After all he's been on the Red Devils' staff for a quarter of a century.

Contact staff writer Mark Heiman at:

(419) 427-8405

Send an e-mail to Mark Heiman
Comment on This Story
NOTE: Comment moderation has been enabled. If you see a comment that violates our Electronic User Agreement, please e-mail webmaster@thecourier.com. Thank you. If you are having problems viewing this Web page, please contact our Internet Department to help us diagnose and correct the problem. We may contact you for more information. Thanks in advance.
Your e-mail address will not be displayed on this website or shared with anyone. It is used by our online editor for contacting purposes.
Comments are moderated by The Courier according to its Electronic User Agreement within one business day. Comments that slander others or include language that violates the agreement will be rejected. All comments that impart opinion and information are welcome.
  Advertisement
Advertisement
Ohio Orthopaedics
   Football Features

2011 Prep Football Preview Section

Visit Citizens National Bank website.

2011 College Football Preview


SBO

   AREA SPORTS

Local Sports
Duffel Bag

Duffel Bag

The Courier's Sports Duffel Bag carries local sports announcements like camps, clinics and coaching vacancies.

  LATEST COMMENTS Last 10 comments submitted by our readers...
Tommy wrote in article "Kucinich praises union":
Not getting it---
“ Been locked out since Thanksgiving being led around by the neck by Rod Nelson. If you are a 207L member I am sorry to say--YOU... ” Read More...
2/6/2012 4:45:44 PM
Tim wrote in article "Kucinich praises union":
Wow.
“ What a bunch of morons. Who knew a little city the size of Findlay has so many morons. How do you people function? ” Read More...
2/6/2012 4:33:56 PM
Interested Observer wrote in article "Kucinich praises union":
Typical Union Ignorance
“ Union members like "comeon" are the ones that give his fellow workers a bad image in the eyes of outsiders. Talking tough and t... ” Read More...
2/6/2012 4:21:01 PM
comeon wrote in article "Kucinich praises union":
company puppets
“ Now don't be upset when Cooper takes from you what they couldn't get from the union workers.They realize who's more valuable,to... ” Read More...
2/6/2012 4:05:19 PM
comeon wrote in article "Kucinich praises union":
greedy
“ When all is done and settled, the spineless will be silent and allowed to suckup thruogh life as in the past, and hide under the... ” Read More...
2/6/2012 3:05:06 PM
SoSAD wrote in article "Driver's body recovered from pond":
Bri
“ I had gone to school with bri at Vantage, and she was such a lovely girl and always could cheer you up. I loved walking into our... ” Read More...
2/6/2012 2:06:05 PM
Respectfully wrote in article "Marathon posts 4th-quarter loss, but 2011 profit up":
Simple economics
“ Supply/demand, this happens all the time, the prices will never go down, everything is going up. Just wait until summer, we've... ” Read More...
2/6/2012 1:13:31 PM
Respectfully wrote in article "Smoke-free cars?":
bob
“ Hey Bob, not all obesity is a creation of the person, but 95% I would say is, while with some people it is inherited from years... ” Read More...
2/6/2012 1:07:32 PM
bu wrote in article "Kucinich praises union":
albany ga
“ We hope you morons lose the plant and have to reopen here in Albany. ” Read More...
2/6/2012 12:59:50 PM
Jon wrote in article "Rep. Hite honored by Ohio Farmers Union":
Rep. Hite honored by Ohio Farmers Union
“ Wow, isn't this interesting. Just a few months ago you would have thought Mr Hite was per evil. Apparently he is out to help the... ” Read More...
2/6/2012 12:59:28 PM
The UPS Store Findlay: Get Mailboxes!
   LOCAL HEADLINES
  NATIONAL SPORTS