CLEVELAND — A legendary high school football coach is calling it a career after arguably one of the best in the state’s history. 

In the seemingly never-ending rows of accomplishments lining the halls of St. Ignatius High School, Coach Chuck Kyle dug into his career as an English teacher to describe a football coaching career.

“Each game's like a novel to me,” said Kyle. “Each game's a chapter and who knows how it’s going to go.” 

He’s had a career that’s full of legendary seasons. His first state title came in 1988.

“Certainly winning the first one, you got to win that first one so that you believe that it can happen. You know, you can talk about it all you want, when you actually do it, it sort of changes that whole approach, that it’s reality now,” said Kyle.  

Coach Kyle has had unprecedented success in his nearly 40 years as the Wildcats' head coach. He’s won 11 state titles, two claimed national championships, been state runners-up twice, achieved a record of 369-104-1 and was given a national award from USA Today.

“That was a great honor. Of all the high schools there are, they decided I get that? That was nice, that was very special,” said Kyle.  

Now in his early 70s, Kyle is deciding to call it a career as a football and track coach after the 2022 football season. He’s leaving behind the field where some of his favorite memories include getting ready for the biggest games. 

“And I think the kids really appreciate that moment, the kids go around hugging each other and shaking each other's hands because job well done. You know, there’s a lot of work involved. And so I think those are really great moments,” said Kyle.  

Kyle has coached some of the best players in Ohio’s high school football history.

“We talk about this every year with the kids,” he said. “I want them to learn how to prepare mentally, physically and spiritually for any challenge they have, and like I said, that’s a pillar of what we do.”

Ryan Franzinger graduated from St. Ignatius and eventually walked on at Ohio State under Coach Jim Tressel. Now, as the school's assistant principal for student discipline and assistant coach, he’s spent some time seeing Kyle in action. 

“Coach's concept of a great player has always really fit in with this school. And the school expects excellence, and it may sound counterintuitive, football never became bigger than the school,” Franzinger said about Kyle.  

And he’s hoping to continue the success of St. Ignatius as the school's next head coach. He has big shoes to fill, but it's an opportunity he welcomes. 

“One of the themes that I’ve always believed in, and this is one of Tressel’s things and I think one of Coach Kyle’s things — even though maybe Coach Kyle doesn’t say it — with tradition comes responsibility and we’re really proud of our tradition. We think it’s a great tradition so it’s a great responsibility. But I’m thrilled,” said Franzinger.  

Coach Kyle will now gear up for his final season in the sport he sees as the best teaching tool.

“You’re smart enough to do anything you want in your life,” said Kyle. “If you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. If you want to be a lawyer, be a lawyer. You’re smart enough, you are. What’s your work ethic? Have you learned work ethic? Because if you do that, you’re going to be fine. I’m going to college. I’ll do well, there’s post graduate work, I’ll do it because I have a work ethic, and I think that’s a really important lesson.”  

He’s loved the ride and enjoyed making players into better men. 

“Wins and losses will take care of themselves, it’s that type of game,” he said. “But I’ve always enjoyed solving some problem for the player. If he’s struggling in a certain technique or understanding something, and that part of it I enjoy, being able to help the young man solve that issue and then you see it come to fruition on the field. That’s really satisfying for me.” 

Coach Kyle now looks forward to reading more novels, visiting his kids in California and working with the Cleveland Browns as a Youth Football Advisor.