With
a few minutes left in Friday’s Ironton and
Nelsonville-York game, the fans in the covered Tanks
Memorial Stadium home side began a chant.
“3-6-1. 3-6-1,” they shouted.
A few moments later, the No. 361 was official as
Ironton beat Nelsonville-York 32-12 to give Fighting
Tigers’ head football coach Bob Lutz the Ohio high
school record for career coaching wins.
Lutz — who has had just one losing season in his
40-year career — now has a 361-82-5 including a
20-8-1 mark in three seasons at Ironton St. Joseph.
Lutz broke the record held by former Hamilton
Catholic-Badin
coach Terry Malone who was unable to attend the game
because he was at his grandson’s game on Senior
Night at Badin.
However, his daughter Kathy Malone did make the trip
and spoke on behalf of her father.
“My father said if there was any coach he wanted to
break the record, it was you,” she said. “He has
tremendous respect for you.”
Lutz and Malone met twice during their careers and
each time Lutz came out the winner, 21-6 in 1979 and
14-13 in 1989. Ironically, both wins came in the
state semifinals and Ironton went on to win the
state championship the next week.
Lutz had nothing but praise for Malone whom he
considers a friend.
“He’s one of the classiest, best football coaches,”
said Lutz. “If there was a record to break, it was
his because he’s a classy individual.”
The ceremony ended with the naming of the Tanks
Memorial Stadium field after Lutz.
“With all that coach Lutz has done, it’s hard to
find a way to repay him. So when you come here to
Tanks Memorial Stadium you are looking at Bob Lutz
Field at Tanks Memorial Stadium,” said Ironton
athletic director Mark LaFon.
Lutz— who is not one for individual records — told
the crowd, “I’m glad this is over,” drawing a
collective laugh from the Ironton fans who know
their coach well.
“I want to thank my wife who has been with me all
these years, by steady right-hand man Mike Burcham,
all the coaches with me through the years here and
at St. Joe, all the players, and to you, the fans of
Ironton who follow us everywhere we go throughout
the state of Ohio. Thank you very much,” said Lutz.
Also attending the game was Dan Ross who is the
commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic
Association. Ross has known Lutz for years and
praised him for his service to the program and the
community.
“I know coach Lutz doesn’t like all the attention,
but this is an important night to the sate of Ohio,”
said Ross who noted there are 716 schools playing
football across the state.
“Tonight coach Lutz has move to the head of the
class.”
Junior running back Tres Wilks scored two touchdowns
in the win. He said the post-game ceremony was very
emotional.
“I cried. I didn’t think it would be like this,”
said Wilks. “When coach Lutz turned and saw the
fireworks, I saw him start to tear us. It got to
me.”
For a commemorative edition honoring Lutz, check any
Ironton Tribune paper box Saturday or pick up a
Sunday edition.
Story at the Ironton Tribune
|
