In a day-and-age of selfies, I was happy to read and now share the story about Olentangy head coach Mark Solis, who took the names off the backs of his players’ uniforms two years ago when he took over the program and is now a perfect 11-0 so far this season.
Solis told The Columbus Dispatch, “I said we’re not doing that. Play for the name on the front of the uniform. The kids bought into it from day one. It always has been about the team. We made some upgrades in the weight room, and the kids worked their tails off to get as strong as they possibly could. They’v e been doing that since January. They play for each other.”
Olentangy won the Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division title this year and will play Wooster tonight in the second round of the Division II Region 5 playoffs.
This is Solis’ fifth stop as a high school football head coach. Including his two years at Olentangy and stints at Lorain, Twinsburg, Elyria and Ashland Crestview, Solis’ lifetime record is 119-53.
