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Ursuline’s decision not to renew contract ‘blindsides’ Kempe
BY Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
Former Urusline football coach Larry Kempe says he was “blindsided” by the school’s decision to not renew his contract.
Kempe said he learned of the decision when he met with school officials principal Matt Sammartino and Father Richard Murphy, the school president, last Friday.
“A year ago, I had a meeting with Father Murphy, principal Sammartino and athletic director Sean Durkin and told them that I felt as though things weren’t headed in the right direction, football-wise,” Kempe said. “I had an opportunity to take another head coaching job, but Mr. Sammartino asked me not to leave and I didn’t.
“You can understand why I was caught off guard Friday when Principal Sammartino told me that they were going to go in a different direction with the program.”
In the end, four playoff appearances in seven seasons as head football coach and three state championships during his decade and a half association with Ursuline wasn’t enough to save Kempe’s job.
Kempe spent 15 seasons at tradition-rich UHS, his first eight as defensive coordinator under former head mentor Dan Reardon where he helped lead the Fighting Irish to three consecutive titles from 2009-11.
Hired in December 2011 as Reardon’s successor, he became the first Fighting Irish head football coach to lead the program to four consecutive playoff appearances in his first four seasons at the helm (2012-15).
They included a state semifinal appearance in 2015 — they were ousted by Steubenville, 28-0 — and regional title appearances in 2012 (loss to Kirtland, 38-37) and in 2014 (loss to Canton Central Catholic, 20-6).
He went 34-46 overall during his seven-years at the helm but was 6-24 the past three campaigns.
Because of their youth, Kempe thought the program might struggle in 2018 but also felt that the future looked bright. Injuries curtailed some of the progress he had hoped to make.
“I saw that this was going to be a challenging year but today, in my opinion, it didn’t seem to faze them,” he said. “I looked at Father Murphy, told him I’m the only head coach at Ursuline to lead the team to the playoffs his first four seasons and now you’re telling me that I am finished. It caught me totally off guard.”
A call to Sammartino requesting further comment was not returned as his mail box was full and not receiving messages.
Father Murphy said Sammartino is the school’s spokesperson and he didn’t want to add another voice to the press release on which he signed off. He called it a “sad, complicated decision and will let the statement speak for itself.”
The statement, which was released Friday by Carolyn L. Korenic, director of Alumni and Advancement, read, “Ursuline High School principal Matthew Sammartino announced today that head football coach Larry Kempe will no longer serve as the head football coach. Kempe was appointed as the head football coach in December 2011. Prior to that, Coach Kempe was an assistant for eight seasons as the defensive coordinator during Ursuline’s three consecutive State Championships (2008, 2009 and 2010). His previous coaching stints included Leetonia, Niles, Girard and Mathews. Ursuline is extremely grateful to Coach Kempe for his long and dedicated service to Ursuline High School’s football program. He always put his student-athletes first.”
The schedule that Kempe played from 2012-18 was as challenging as any in the state. His opponents posted a combined 621-303 overall ledger and included 37 playoff teams, nine of which won state championships, five became finalists, seven advanced to the semifinal round with four regional finalists.
“Our schedule illustrates what I was up against,” he said. “No one in the Valley would play my schedules as evidenced by the number of playoff teams and their records.”
Kempe went on to say that he felt open enrollment has been a factor in the program’s gradual decline.
“In my opinion and mine alone, open enrollment is an area where parochial schools are currently struggling,” Kempe said. “We had open enrollment when Dan was head coach and during my first year, but after that the doors seemed to shut.”
Kempe said the decision has been tough to stomach, yet alone accept.
“Where we are at, where the system is and the honesty that I feel I have given to administration during my time with the program, I do feel like I have been betrayed,” Kempe said. “In the end, I feel like I didn’t receive a fair shake. Right now, I just need some time to myself and walk away for a bit so I can collect my thoughts.”
The veteran coach said fall football is still in his blood and hopes to return to the sidelines next season.
“I believe I’m pretty good at what I do and hope to be back on the sidelines as soon as possible,” he added.
A search committee will begin the process of selecting a new coach.
“We are hopeful we will soon find a new head football coach who will continue the Ursuline football tradition and promote the school’s outstanding academic program,” Sammartino said in the release made by the school.