Saturday, January 19, 2019
Former Irish head coach
Dan Reardon returning
By Dan Hiner
Youngstown
Dan Reardon is returning to Ursuline High School as the head football coach after four seasons at Canton McKinley.
Canton City Schools announced Reardon’s resignation on Friday evening via its twitter account and added that he was returning to Ursuline.
Reardon replaces Larry Kempe, who was one of his assistants before taking the job in 2012. Kempe’s contract was not renewed after Ursuline went 1-9 in 2018.
Reardon made five playoff appearances with the Irish, winning three straight Division V state titles from 2008-10. He led the Irish from 2004-11 and posted a 72-29 record.
The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown said any information about the hire would come from Ursuline High School.
At Friday’s Chaney-Ursuline basketball game at Ursuline, principal Matthew Sammartino declined to comment and said the school will issue a news release on Tuesday.
The Rev. Richard Murphy, Ursuline president, said the school “has protocols and we will follow them.”
Reardon attended the game aand told a reporter he’s not to speak to the media before Tuesday.
Sean Durkin, Ursuline athletic director, did not return a call.
The Irish made four consecutive state finals under Reardon. They lost to Maria Stein Marion Local 20-14 in the 2007 final before beating Findlay Liberty-Benton in 2008 and Coldwater in 2009 and 2010.
In 2010, former Ursuline running back Akise Teague was named Mr. Football. Teague finished the year with more than 2,300 rushing yards, and broke the school records for all-purpose yards with more than 4,000 and total touchdowns with 48.
Teague is the last Mr. Football from the area.
Reardon stepped down in November 2011 after his wife accepted a job in Colorado. While in Colorado, Reardon spent two season coaching Poudre High School and one at Wheat Ridge.
In four seasons at Canton McKinley, Reardon went 30-15 with four Division I playoff appearances. The Bulldogs won a share of the Federal League title in each of the last two seasons.
The Bulldogs went 9-2 last season and beat Solon 28-15 in the first round of the Division I, Region 1 playoffs. It was McKinley’s first postseason win under Reardon.