After coaching with college programs in Kentucky and Alabama, Anthony Colucci is returning to his native Ohio to guide a high school football team for the first time.
Colucci, 31, has been named coach at St. Charles . He succeeds Deke Hocker, who stepped down after six seasons.
Colucci takes over a program that hasn't had a winning season since 2013, when it finished 8-3. Under Hocker, the Cardinals went 21-36 overall and 0-18 in the CCL.
"Our program will be about brotherhood of excellence – all day, every day – until somebody drags me out of here," Colucci said. "Over time, my hope and my goal is that not only does it change and drive the culture, but it also changes the kids. It becomes a way of life."
Colucci met with his players Thursday and then with parents and administrators later in the day.
"It was a good reception," Colucci said of his meeting with players. "Kids are nervous about what change is going to look like."
Colucci is a 2010 graduate of Ashtabula Lakeside, where he was an offensive and defensive lineman. He went on to play on the offensive line at Capital before coaching tight ends and offensive linemen at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.
After three years at Centre, Colucci became the offensive coordinator at Birmingham-Southern in 2017. He was named head coach before the 2023 season but saw his tenure cut short when administrators announced the school was closing effective May 31 because of insufficient funding.
"I believe that Anthony has the experience and leadership skills that we need, both on the field and off," St. Charles principal James Lower said. "He's a man of faith, a man of character and he is the right person to lead our football program."
Upon learning Birmingham-Southern was closing, Colucci began searching for his next position. He went 3-7 in his lone season leading the program.
"When I logged on to the OHSAA website, it wasn't like I applied to every job I could find," he said. "I went down the list and thought, 'I know St. Charles.' I know that they have tons of tradition. I know that it's highly regarded in the area. I know that it's a product that I will be able to sell and be able to confidentially put my name behind."
Colucci and his wife, Chelsea , have one child, A.J., who is 3. Colucci will be a physical education teacher, along with assisting with admissions at the school, beginning in the fall.
"I look forward to the full development of our young men beyond the field in all areas of their lives," he said. "Whatever it is they're involved in, whatever it is that's important to them, we're going to talk about how can we pursue that excellence. Who do you need to surround yourself with within your brotherhood to make sure you attain as close to that excellence and perfection that you possibly can?"
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: St. Charles hires Anthony Colucci as football coach
