WARREN, Ohio — Members of the Warren John F Kennedy High School community admit they were surprised and saddened when legendary Head Coach Jeff Bayuk left.

What You Need To Know

  • Dom Prologo is no stranger to the Mahoning Valley coaching scene, but 2020 is his first season as head coach

  • Prologo took over after the departure of legendary Ohio High School coach Jeff Bayuk

  • The 9-2 Warren JFK Eagles face the 9-2 New Bremen Cardinals for the Division VII Championship Friday

Bayuk guided the Eagles to the Division VII State Championship in 2016 and joined his son's staff at Struthers High School earlier this year.

But players and coaches alike knew it was Bayuk protege Dom Prologo's time to spread his wings and lead the Eagles football team.

“I called him in and said you're our guy. So I said I'll drive to Canfield. I'll pitch a tent in your front yard, you're not saying no. I mean, you deserve it. You've always been the defensive coordinator, it's your time,” said JFK Strength and Conditioning Coach and Kennedy Alum, Frank Tempesta.

Prologo says after more than 30 years as an assistant under Bayuk, his own coach in high school, and years of running Kennedy's defense, he never had aspirations of being a head football coach. But in this case, the stars were aligned.

“The group of kids that we have here and the culture that's here and the community that's here, I just felt like this was home and if I'm going to coach, this is where I want to be. So, when he made that decision, I made my decision,” said Prologo.

With seven returning starters on offense and on defense, Prologo knew this was going to be a special year. And his leadership goes well beyond X's and O's.

“Relates well to kids, a great motivator. But X's and O's, the schemes that he runs, kids believe in him. He's a father figure just like Nappy, just like Bayuk,” said Tempesta.

“A guy we already knew, who we knew was amazing, knows what he's doing. We felt a little bit excited. Something new, something fresh. We knew that wasn't going to change what our plans were,” said Senior Running Back Jesse Likens.

And the Eagles' plan is victory, earning respect as a powerhouse in Division 7 and adding a third state championship in school history — their first since 2016.

“The ‘16 team, they got their seat at the table, and we're looking for ours. They won a state championship and we hope to do the same thing,” said Senior Quarterback and Strong Safety Cam Hollobaugh.

Although Prologo defers much of the credit to players and assistant coaches, many of whom are from the Bayuk coaching tree, the 2020 squad knows it's their time to shine.

“I kind of always say he's like a big brother to me. He taught me in school, he coached me in school, I coached with him forever. It's never mine. If I learned anything from the guys I have, ah, the kids are who wins championships. We expected to be here. And this would have been a disappointment to not be here,” said Prologo.