Mar. 21—As a fourth-grader at St. Gerard, Colin Stolly remembers watching former LCC coach Jerry Cooper turn around the program and lead a team he looked up to, to the regional finals.
Stolly has pictures of himself in an LCC jersey as a kid and when he put it on for real, he wore number 14 and succeeded Tyler O’Connor, a future Michigan State Spartan, as the team’s quarterback.
Six years ago, after a collegiate baseball career at Ohio Wesleyan and three summers with the Lima Locos, Stolly returned to the sidelines as an assistant coach under Scott Palte.
And now, Stolly’s the guy in charge, after LCC officially officially announced him as the school’s new head football coach this week.
Stolly, a former starting quarterback, shortstop and starting pitcher who once threw a no-hitter at LCC, called his hiring a “full circle moment” in his lifelong journey as a T-Bird.
“It means a lot,” Stolly said. “When I came back to Lima and Coach (Scott) Palte gave me an opportunity to come coach, I really fell in love with it over the last seven years.
“When he resigned, it was kind of a no-brainer for me to apply for the job. I just thought about it, talked to my wife and we prayed about it, and it worked out.”
Scott Palte announced his resignation as the head football coach after 11 seasons at LCC on Feb. 20. During his tenure, Palte led the Thunderbirds to an 88-40 record with nine playoff appearances, including two state semifinalist appearances.
Stolly praised Palte for his achievements during his head coaching career and credited him for being a great mentor during his time at LCC.
“He’s one of the best football coaches in the state and especially in this area,” Stolly said of Palte. “Having the opportunity to coach under him for seven years was really a blessing. I don’t think I would be here if it wasn’t for him.”
Stolly said he’s also excited to coach LCC’s returning players, a group that includes quarterback Brady Parker, linebacker Caden Falke and lineman Dom McKee, among others.
Parker ended his first season under center with 1,066 passing yards and 656 rushing yards with 18 total touchdowns. McKee protects Parker at the tackle position with his 6-6, 260-pound frame and Falke is a former all-Ohio linebacker who anchors a defense that finished in the top half of the Northwest Conference in most major categories.
“Being able to coach those guys for their first three years, or first two years has been really cool, and they grew up a bunch last year,” Stolly said. “We have a great group coming back and I’m really excited to push those guys because the little things are what build up to the wins.
“Ultimately it comes down to a great group of 40 guys who just want to become better football players and better people. To have the ability to coach them in football and in life with a staff that’s that’s top tier is going to be so great.”
Aside from Palte, the entire coaching staff which includes Ryan Betts, Aidan O’Connor, Troy Parker, MyKale Rogers, Kevin Schelb and Ethan Truex will return next season after Stolly’s promotion, with an emphasis on continuity and a few tweaks mixed into the game plan.
“It meant a lot when I called those guys and they agreed to stay on if I got the job,” Stolly said of his staff. “We’ve been together for the last four years, so we know each other, care about each other outside of football, and we’re good friends, so that’s going to be a huge help to me in my first years as a head coach.”
Of course, one of the most exciting moments Colin Stolly is looking forward to experiencing as a head coach is running out of the tunnel for the first time this fall with his team.
“That gives me chills to think about because it’s going to be really cool. It’s going to be a little different but knowing that you’ve got 40 guys in your corner that are playing for you and seven coaches that are coaching for you, that’s going to be really, really cool. I can’t wait for August 21.”
Reach Chris Howell at 567-242-0468 or on X @Lima_Howell
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