Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna is returning to Ohio as the head coach at Lakota East High School. The longtime NFL veteran played five years in the Queen City.
Kitna has spent the last three seasons as the head coach at Burleson High School in Texas. There he led the program to a 17-15 record. Prior to Burleson, he had head coaching stops at Brophy Prep (Arizona), Lincoln (Tacoma, Washington) and Waxahachie (Texas). His lifetime mark is 68-42.
Here’s new Lakota East head football coach Jon Kitna on his return to Ohio and bringing his son, Jamison, a five star QB with him @WLWT #Blitz5 pic.twitter.com/VV6djWZ6Gn
— Mark Slaughter (@MarkVSlaughter) February 22, 2023
Lakota East was 3-7 last year. The Thunderhawks play in one of the toughest public school leagues in America, the Greater Miami Conference. Last year, three teams — Lakota West (No. 46), Mason (No. 204) and Princeton (No. 243) — finished in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
Related: HSFA 300 national rankings for 2022
Along with getting the former NFL QB, Lakota East also gets Kitna’s son Jamison, a junior-to-be. Last year at Burleson, he threw for nearly 1,900 yards with 15 touchdowns against seven picks. Jamison reportedly has seven college football scholarship offers, according to 247Sports.
Kitna’s most successful stint was at his alma mater in Washington. He was 24-8 with a perfect regular season in 2014.
After his hiring at Lincoln, I interviewed Kitna on the High School Football America Radio Show in 2012. You can listen to below.
