UA has great potential: History, funding and deep pockets $$$, a new High School is being built with new facilities & refurbished stadium. However, a lot of things will be difficult to overcome for the new coach (who I am sure is an excellent coach):
* This will be their 4th coach in as many years
* I believe their Sophomore class to be is low on numbers and the Junior class to be lost as Freshman 50 something to 20 something vs Div IV power Clinton Massie. Yes, I know it was as freshman and the CM class was extremely good but still, almost 4 td difference to a Div IV school.
* The concern regarding concussions definitely affects the numbers for football in UA
* New coach will have to understand/break the dynamics of the 'South of Lane' mentality. It definitely seems to be a thing in UA.
* New coach may not get to work with the players much, if at all this summer due to the coronavirus. He may not see his new players/team until August.
Since UA's 2000 State Title Team, the Golden Bears record is an above average/respectable 124-77 (61.69%).
* 39 of those victories (31.45%) are vs teams that finished above 500.
* 43 of these victories (34.68%) are vs traditionally weak opponents Westland, Grove City Central Crossing, Newark and Thomas Worthington
* 7 playoff appearances in the last 20 years (that's pretty good)
* Playoff Record of 4-7 (36.36%). Playoff wins are vs Westland, Marysville, Troy & Pickerington Central (probably UA's biggest victory in the last 20 years).
Simply put, UA hasn't been UA for 20 years. I'm sure the players will respond, they did last year. Will the parents/administration/people within the community allow the coach to do what he feels he needs to do and then support him - I think that is the bigger question. Sometimes UA can have too many cooks in the kitchen. Lets just hope we are playing football come August and good luck to UA.