Sunday Chat is a weekly feature appearing in The Blade’s print and digital platforms each Sunday.
Although he was preceded by some highly successful high school football coaches in Toledo from the previous decades, the city's first iconic head coach from the playoff era (since 1972) was undeniably Dick Cromwell at St. Francis de Sales.
Cromwell, 76, has been away from coaching football for 15 years now, but his resume speaks for itself.
Forty years ago, Cromwell's 1984 St. Francis squad became Toledo's first state championship team, beating North Canton Hoover dramatically, 17-14 on a late field goal, in the Division I state final at Ohio Stadium.
In 1980, his second season, Cromwell had guided the Knights to the school's first playoff appearance. In 1982, St. Francis was the Division II state runner-up. These early stepping stones led to the 1984 triumph and set the stage for Cromwell's Ohio hall of fame career.
Led by three first team All-Ohioans – running back Rodney Gamby, lineman Andrew Standford, and linebacker John Lonchyna – Crowmell's 2001 Knights added a Division II state championship, topping Columbus Bishop Watterson 28-14 in the title game in Massillon.
That second crown cemented Cromwell's coaching legacy, which included a combined overall career record of 251-119-2 in 34 total seasons, including Olmsted Falls (1975-78) and Findlay (1985-88).
In 26 seasons at St. Francis (1979-84, 1990-2009), he was 208-85-1 with 11 City League titles and 13 playoff appearances. His 2002 Knights reached the D-II state semifinals.
The Blade: You had almost immediate success at St. Francis. Why did it work so well, and how did that pave the way to what your teams ultimately accomplished?
Cromwell: “There were good kids at St. Francis when I got there, and my style and personality of coaching, along with our assistant coaches over the years, seemed to really fit.”
The Blade: In 1984, your Knights became Toledo's first state football champion and, to this day, the only Toledo school to win a big-school [AAA or Division I] title. What are your significant memories from that season?
Cromwell: “The kids and coaches that are dear friends of mine to this day, the culmination of making the playoffs in 1980, being state runner-up in '82, and state champs in ’84 — it doesn’t get much better than that.”
The Blade: What led your move to Findlay, why didn't it work for you, and how fortunate were you to get back to St. Francis?
Cromwell: “State teachers retirement money. Not sure [why it didn't work], at least nothing that can be printed. We were moving back to Toledo in 1990 and I had talked with Fred Beier at St. Johns and Craig Schaefer at Northview about joining their staff, and possibly landing a teaching position at their school. Then, on a Sunday morning in early February, Father ‘O’ [Rev. Ronald Olszewski] called to say that the St Francis position had opened up and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.’”
The Blade: After many league titles and playoff appearances in between, your 2001 Knights won a Division II state title. What stood out about that team, and why were they able to get it done?
Cromwell: “Unlike the ’84 team, we had a lot of kids who had played quite a bit the previous year. They were good players, dedicated kids, hard workers and, like ’84, they hated to lose.”
The Blade: After the 2009 season, when St. Francis went 11-2 and reached the D-II regional final, you retired from coaching. What factors led to that decision?
Cromwell: “January weight lifting, June 7-on-7s, the general year-round grind, and commitment of coaching football took its toll on me physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
The Blade: For the most part, St. Francis has struggled in football since you stepped away. From your vantage point, how would you assess this period, and the high number of coaching changes?
Cromwell: “Various factors have contributed. Personal decisions of several coaches, the fit with St. Francis wasn’t right, and the vast improvement of the suburban schools in facilities and educational opportunities have dried up the talent pool to a certain degree. I thought Dan Chipka had things going in his four years, and then he went the college route.”
The Blade: Your last role in education/athletics was at Cardinal Stritch. What were the highlights from those years?
Cromwell: “After being away from education and sports for several years it was fun to be back involved with high school kids. Going to the state final four with Jamie Kachmarik’s 2019 basketball team was a real thrill, and just working with the good coaches and kids we had at Stritch in those years was rewarding.”
The Blade: What has life been like for you in the years since?
Cromwell: “My wife and I moved to Perrysburg Township to be five minutes from one set of our grandkids. I am substitute teaching a couple of days a week at St Francis and Maumee Valley Country Day school, and I never miss a ‘5 o’clock somewhere' Manhattan on our deck with my wife.”
The Blade: What is your opinion on today's high school game in terms of what you like and don't like?
Cromwell: “I don’t like the year-round emphasis — kids playing one sport. I don’t like the increased parent involvement and entitlement. I don’t like the treatment of officials from the fans, even though I was never shy about voicing my opinion of a call or two in my day. I don’t like the watered down, expanded playoff system. I do like the excitement of Friday night football. I do like the fact that the kids are having fun playing the sport, and I still think that the athletic arena is a great place for males and females to grow in so many ways.”
First Published September 15, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
