John Cahill steps down as Clyde girls basketball coach
CLYDE – After nearly a quarter century and more than 300 wins, John Cahill is stepping away from the program he molded into local powerhouse.
The longtime Clyde girls basketball coach told his team Thursday he was stepping down.
“Don’t hate me and don’t cheer,” he told his players. “Neither one is good.”
Cahill cited several factors as weighing on his decision. An eighth-grade English teacher, Cahill holds a master’s degree in administration but pursuing a position in that field is difficult for a full-time coach.
Cahill also said he felt a new voice and face leading the way would be best for the program.
“I think we had a great year, but we’ve had a lot of kids not come out and I think some fresh blood might help that and maybe get some enthusiasm back,” Cahill said.
Cahill joined the Clyde program 23 years ago and has served as head coach for the last 18. In that time, Clyde became the area’s elite girls program.
The Fliers have won six Sandusky Bay Conference championships, 13 sectional tournament championships, three district titles and made state Final Four appearances in 2011 and 2013.
Cahill has been named District 6 Coach of the Year five times, AP Northwest District Coach of the Year three times, Division II Coach of the Year by the Ohio Basketball Coaches’ Association in 2011 and AP Division II Coach of the Year in 2012.
The Fliers posted a 315-103 record under Cahill, including a 17-7 record this season, despite just one returning starter.
“He leaves big shoes to fill. He’s a legend,” Clyde athletic director Ryan Greenslade said. “When you go to replace somebody with that kind of record, that kind of rapport with the kids and the community, it’s not an easy task ahead of us. Ideally, we’d like to find somebody that’s a teacher and a coach too. Often times we find a great coach is also a great teacher in the classroom.”
Cahill downplayed the impact of his eldest daughter, Amanda, playing collegiate basketball at the University of Indiana. Cahill logged many hours on the road traveling see Amanda play in Bloomington, Indiana, and throughout the Big Ten Conference.
Though he is stepping away from the program, Cahill said he doesn’t intend to leave the district.
“I’m a Flier. I’m not actively looking to leave,” he said. “This is home and I’ve been here a long time. I’m not looking to go anywhere.”
Cahill will remain active in coaching with the Fremont-based AAU basketball program North Coast Showtime.
“I will still be in gyms. Cahills are basketball people,” he said. “We’ll be watching games and supporting the girls. It’s not like we’re not going to not be around. But it’ll definitely be different, not being on the sidelines.”
While the Fliers’ trips to the state Final Four are among Cahill’s personal highlights, he also mentioned another team and accomplishment that he holds dear.
“We had a team in ’99, we won the league in 98, lost a ton of kids, and we started off 3-9,” Cahill said. “Then won 10 in a row and made it to districts. I think as a coach you take some pride in those seasons where maybe you weren’t expected to do as much.
“And the relationships you build with kids. It makes you feel good about what you’ve done here when people are still willing to come back here in their 30s for a night. I don’t know if there is any higher compliment than being called ‘Coach.’ I think it’s been a really cool thing.”
rmcgowan@gannett.com
419-334-1043
Twitter: @RMcGowan1