PREP FOOTBALL Harding coach plans to remain

Thom McDaniels said rumors that he's leaving the Raiders are false.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- The last time Warren Harding High coach Thom McDaniels coached in a state championship game, he resigned after the season.
Over the past week, McDaniels has been rumored to be leaving Warren Harding for another high school or college position -- most notably as an assistant on Jim Tressel's staff at Ohio State.
"That's what they are -- rumors," McDaniels said after Saturday's 21-19 loss to Cincinnati Elder in the Division I state final. "At this point, those rumors are false."
McDaniels, who took a job as a Canton City Schools administrator after leading Canton McKinley to the 1997 state championship, said he plans to stay in coaching -- and to do it with the Raiders.
He emphasized that he has not been contacted for a coaching position anywhere else, nor has he pursued any openings. Like most top coaches, he has dreamed of being a coach at a major college program, but has said in the past that he feels the opportunity has passed.
Rebuilt team into state power
In his three seasons at Warren Harding, he has led the Raiders to two state playoff appearances and has rebuilt the team into a perennial power.
"I'm really proud of how far we've come, but there is still progress to be made if we're going to win a state title," said McDaniels, who has a 34-6 record at Harding.
Unlike last year, however, the Raiders are losing the bulk of their starters to graduation. Compounding the problem is the shrinking of the Steel Valley Conference, which loses Boardman and Austintown Fitch to the Federal League next season.
That sets up serious problems with scheduling, especially in football. The Raiders already had to fill this season's schedule with overmatched opponents such as Cleveland South, Cleveland JFK and Toledo Whitmer. SVC officials have contacted several area schools about joining the league, but so far the interest has been lukewarm.
That could change now that the football season has ended, but it's unlikely that the league will be as strong next season.
Gets most of talent
Still, the problem at Warren Harding has never been talent. McDaniels has shown an ability to get the best athletes at the school to come out for football, and then to get the most out of their talent.
"I think we've come a long way in a short period of time, but I don't think we came quite far enough," McDaniels, 53, said. "That's obvious in the outcome, but it's obvious in other ways, too, in some things that the coaches and kids are aware of but the public isn't."
The cupboard isn't totally bare for next season -- super sophomore Mario Manningham and 1,400-yard rusher Richard Davis return -- and there are plenty of talented underclassmen who haven't had the opportunity to play because of the high number of seniors starting on this year's team.
But make no mistake, these seniors will be missed.
"I told them this might be the single, most successful thing you're ever a part of," McDaniels said. "I hope not. I hope your marriage is better. I hope your job is better. I hope your college experience is better. I hope your college football-playing experience is better.
"But," he added, " you never know."
scalzo@vindy.com