Could Rotsky be the man at St. Edward High School?
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published Nov. 22, 2006

School officials are only saying a review is being conducted, but sources very close to the situation have told West Life, that not only has football coach John Gibbons been fired, but also the entire staff that he brought in will not be retained.

St. Edward Principal Eugene Boyer discounted that statement, saying only that the Gibbons situation is under review.

“I am in the process of conducting an administrative review,” Boyer said.  “It’s a deliberative process, and I would hope that all those interested in St. Edward High School would honor the delicate and confidential nature of that process.”

“I realize there is tremendous interest and much speculation on our situation.  However, due to privacy considerations, I am unable to address specific allegations.  There is no timetable for the completion of this review.  When the review is completed, I will have an announcement.  Until that time, I will have no further comment.”

“I would also remind you that I am the only authorized person to speak for St. Edward High School on this subject.  I would warn you that interviews or information passed along by any one else is not the official position of St. Edward High School.”

Gibbons has coached at St. Edward since 1999. His record at the Catholic school in Lakewood stands at 81-22, including a 9-2 slate this past season. His 2003 squad finished as the Division I state runner-up and the Eagles were Division I state semifinalists in 2005.

The administrative leave that school officials are referring to it as, stems from an alleged incident that occurred on the bus after a 7-3 season ending loss to Warren Harding in the playoffs.  Since that time, players such as Ohio State recruit Nate Oliver have had nothing but support for Gibbons as have a number of parents.

According to one source who wished to remain anonymous–but like Oliver, backed the coaches’ actions–said the incident that everyone is talking about occurred when Gibbons went to the back of the bus, and confronted a player, who didn’t seem too concerned about the loss.

“The player yelled at Gibbons telling him, ‘nice play calling coach,’’’ the source said. “And all the coach did was tell him ‘let’s take this off the bus.’ There was no confrontation.”

WEWS was able to catch up with Gibbons briefly in Mentor, and in the interview, Gibbons said the incident on the bus was “neither verbal nor physical” and that anyone making allegations about his conduct “better have evidence.”

St. Edward’s football team dropped out of USA Today’s Super 25 national high school football poll following its 7-3 loss to Harding last Saturday in a Division I, Region 1 semifinal.

St. Edward entered the game ranked 12th in the nation, and sources say despite the winning record, the incident was an excuse to get rid of Gibbons because he couldn’t deliver a championship to the school.

One source told West Life exclusively that current Maple Heights coach Jeff Rotsky is a target candidate for the position. Rotsky has turned around programs at both Maple Heights and Chanel, where he won a state championship.

Rotsky, a millionaire stockbroker who loves the game of football, has taken Maple Heights to the playoffs the past five years, and did one of the best jobs in the state of rebuilding a program, considering the Mustangs were on a 20 game losing streak until he took the position. They are now perennial playoff contenders.

It was not his first job where he took a program to new heights. He was named head coach at South High, but demoted to co- after a teacher filed a grievance. South had gone 0-10 the previous year, but under Rotsky, they won the division.

He wanted a program of his own, though, and in 1997 was named head coach at Chanel, a school that was on a 48-game losing streak. After struggling at first, they went 6-4 in his second season and 13-1 the next, beating Lake Catholic to win the league. In 2000 the Firebirds got through the state playoffs, losing in the championship game.

Some say he would be a perfect fit for the Eagles, should the rumors about Gibbons’ demise prove true. Calls to Rotsky were not returned.