The new era of Wildcat football is in good and familiar hands with first-year Head Football Coach Ryan Franzinger ’02. 

It was announced on December 13, 2021, that legendary football coach Chuck Kyle ’69 would retire after the 2022 season. With his announcement, he would name his former student-athlete and colleague, Ryan Franzinger, the next head coach for the football program. 

Franzinger becomes the 19th head football coach in program history at Saint Ignatius. 

Although it is Franzinger’s first year as the head coach, he enters his 17th season as a part of the coaching staff. 

Franzinger returned to his Alma Mater before the 2007 season as a linebackers coach. By 2009, Franzinger earned the title of Co-Defensive Coordinator. He would work alongside longtime DC Dan Corrigan ’78 for seven seasons. When the 2016 season came around, Franzinger took the reins as the Defensive Coordinator with the retirement of Corrigan. 

Franzinger’s defense in 2016 would play a significant part in the Wildcats’ 13-2 season, which ended in a State Championship appearance against St. Xavier. 

Last season, while coaching the linebackers and maintaining his Defensive Coordinator role, Franzinger was named the Associate Head Coach, working closely with Chuck Kyle, preparing to take over the program in the 2023 season. 

As a student-athlete at Saint Ignatius, Franzinger was a two-way athlete for the Wildcats. He was a three-year letter award winner as a fullback and linebacker.

Franzinger was a member of the 1999 and 2001 State Championship teams. In 2001 Franzinger was named a Co-Captain and MVP of the State Championship team his senior year.

Franzinger would attend Holy Cross for his first year of college and compete as a track and field team member before transferring after his 2002-2003 school year.

Franzinger would go on to play BIG 10 football at The Ohio State University as a walk-on for legendary coach Jim Tressel. Franzinger made his collegiate debut in 2004 as a fullback in the 27-6 season-opener win against Cincinnati. Franzinger would earn a Division I scholarship in his senior season.

Franzinger was a member of two BIG 10 Championship teams and graduated with a philosophy and sociology degree.
Franzinger would be inducted into the Saint Ignatius Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

Between being a player and coach, Franzinger has won a total of four State Championships. Two as a player (1999, 2001) and two as a coach (2008, 2011). 

The tradition of excellence will continue under Franzinger as he looks to continue coach Kyle’s legacy. “I’m the steward of the program,” Franzinger said when named the next head coach. “I’ll be the head coach, but it’s the school’s program. And it goes beyond that because the school serves the church and the world.”

For years, Franzinger served as the Assistant Principal for Student Discipline but moved into the Theology department at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. 

In 2021, Franzinger earned his master’s from St. Mary’s Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Wickliffe, Ohio.
“You don’t always get to choose your passions,” Franzinger says. “I believe that God places on your heart certain things that you’re going to be drawn toward. I feel that way about this program.”

In his first season as head coach, Franzinger led the Wildcats to the Regional Quarterfinal after a 10-7 win over the Mentor Cardinals in the First Round of the OHSAA Tournament. 

Varsity Coaches: 

Head Coach: Ryan Franzinger '02

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks: Carter Welo '03

Offensive Line Coach / Director of Football Development: LeCharles Bentley '98

Offensive Line Coach: Kevin Sheridan '03

Tight Ends: Mark Ruddy '90

Running Backs: Luke Baker '17

Wide Receivers: Kevin Byrne '03

Special Teams: Kevin Spencer

Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line: Dave Cicetti 

Defensive Line: Tom Narducci 

Linebackers: John Pieschalski '89

Defense Backs: Jeff Welcsh

Defense Backs: Ike Charlton

Defensive Assistant: Bob Madden '70

Sideline Discipline: Rory Hennessey ’78

Student Coach: MJ Sebring '24

Director of Football Operations: Matthew Mooney '85

Director of Strength and Conditioning: Anthony Rubino 

Assistant Strength and Conditioning: AJ Short '09

Head Trainer: Maureen Sizemore A.T.C. 

Assistant Athletic Trainer: Evan Schlanser

Chaplain: Dan Bradesca '88

Statistician: Mike Tuason '83

Statistician: Seamus Hough '09

Equipment Manager: Tim Malik '99

End Zone Videographer: James Feeks

End Zone Videographer: Brendan Barnett '24

Title: Head Coach

High School: Saint Ignatius '02

College: The Ohio State University '06

Coaching Experience: 17 years total, 1st year HC

State Championships: 0

Record: 3-9

(As of November 4, 2023)

Junior Varsity:

Head Coach: Mark Ruddy '90

Freshmen Coaches: