It's safe to say Sasala found that and more.
The STVM athletic director announced 2011 graduate Doran Grant will head up the program in a press release Thursday.
That would be Doran Grant , the captain of the 2014 Ohio State national championship team and two-time All-Ohioan for the Irish.
He was also a state champion hurdler in track for STVM.
"He has a wealth of experience," Sasala said. "Through his playing time here at St. Vincent-St. Mary, the college realm and being in a few different schools leading up to his time here, we're super excited about him coming back here. He's coming back home as I like to say.
"Even though he left, he's still a part of the St. V community. We still think of him as part of the family. I think it's going to be a splash hire. He'll help us bring in some talent on the field and with the coaches. He's a St. V guy. "He understands our traditions. He understands the St. V way. Even though he graduated St. V. He's stayed connected ever since he left.""
Grant takes over for Cistone , who coached STVM to a 13-10 record and back-to-back playoff appearances the last two seasons.
Cistone was an assistant for the Irish on the 1981 and 1982 state championship teams. He was a special teams coach in 2020 and running backs coach in 2021.
His father, John , has the football field named after him.
That's what made Grant's pedigree so important.
He was the defensive backs and strength and conditioning coach at Elyria Catholic last season and the was the defensive backs coach at Pickerington North before that.
"It's a place I've always loved and adored even before I got there," Grant said. "I had multiple family members go there, so when it was my time, I just fully embraced it. I was so happy to be there and it's exactly how I feel right now. It's like going there for the first time. I'm just so appreciative to be there. I honestly can't wait because I'm going to give St. Vincent-St. Mary every ounce of energy I have."
The former cornerback knows a little something about football at the highest level.
He played in 54 games for the Buckeyes and started 30 of them.
Grant finished with 140 tackles – four for loss – with a sack, nine interceptions, a forced fumble and a pick six.
He was a fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers and appeared in three games. Grant also spent time with the Buffalo Bills , New York Giants , Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears .
Those experiences have him coming in confident in bringing the Irish back to the championship years.
"Pressure is like saying hype," Grant said. "I don't think it's real unless you make it real. I understand where St. Vincent-St. Mary has been these last several years. I get it. I'm not going to say it's pressure, but it's responsibility. Who better to do it than myself. I'll be honest, it's more responsibility than it is pressure."
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: St. Vincent-St. Mary High School hiring Doran Grant as football coach
