Dan O’Leary ’96 was a member of three of the Wildcats’ record 11 Division I state championship football teams and two of the three national championship squads (1993 and 1995).
Tim Gauntner ’59 made his mark in football and track and Dan Stefancin ’77 is among Saint Ignatius’ all-time greats in wrestling. Gauntner was a mainstay for the Wildcats’ 1957 and 1958 Charity Game teams.
The corner is going to take a look back at Dan O’Leary’s career, a career this old-timer had the privilege to cover and report on, and we will also provide you with bios on Tim Gauntner and Dan Stefancin that are courtesy of Saint Ignatius’ Athletics and Communications Departments.
By Eddie Dwyer
Brooklyn, Ohio – Saint Ignatius head football coach Chuck Kyle ’69 has earned numerous state and national laurels throughout his storied career.
With four summer mini camps having already taken place, Coach Kyle has embarked on season No. 31 with his 2013 Wildcats.
The one accomplishment on Coach Kyle’s remarkable resume that many times gets overlooked, or just taken for granted, is not the Ohio-best 11 state championships, nor the three national titles (1989, ’93 and ’95).
What Coach Kyle’s teams accomplished in the 1990s is almost mythical – six state championships, a state runner-up in 1996 and state-semifinal appearances in 1997 and 1998. And included in that historic run is the mark so many record keepers seem to overlook, the mark this corner has always referred to as the “Joe DiMaggio Record of Ohio High School Football” – five consecutive Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state championships (1991-95). Like the Yankee Clipper’s 56-game hitting streak, those five Division I titles in succession have stood, and will continue to stand, the test of time.
There are numerous high school coaches throughout the football rich state of Ohio who would be more than happy to tell you how difficult it is to win one or two state crowns. Five in a row in the OHSAA's largest and arguably most demanding division is almost unthinkable.
And those five consecutive titles and the 11 overall had to come through talent-laden Region 1.
Yes, you have to have physically gifted and quick-study athletes in order to put up such historical numbers. Coach Kyle will be the first to tell you that. What his humility won’t tell you is there isn’t a better coach in America when it comes to developing those overlooked or less touted players, players whose football careers usually end on the high school or small college gridiron.
In the fall of 1995, Coach Kyle and his staff were blessed with several athletes rich in talent, among them one of this year’s inductees into Saint Ignatius’ prestigious Athletic Hall of Fame – two-time first-team All-Ohio tight end Dan O’Leary.
Dan was part of a celebrated senior class that included what is regarded as one of the strongest defensive fronts in the Wildcats’ rich history – Chris Hovan (All-Ohio), John Favret (All-Ohio) and tackles John Krafcik and Jamie “Bubba” Bennett.
Favret went on to an outstanding All-Big Ten career as a defensive end for the Wisconsin Badgers and Hovan garnered All-America honors at Boston College and had a successful career as a nose tackle in the NFL. Chris was a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2000 draft and he also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Rams before an injury ended his NFL career.
The 1995 ‘Cats also featured senior middle linebacker Chris Della Vella, the state’s co-Defensive Player of the Year; All-Ohio senior punter and defensive back Adam Hill; senior All-Ohio offensive lineman Scott Wolfe; the powerful and accurate arm of senior quarterback Geoff Panteck; the sure hands and smooth route running of senior wide receiver and punt returner Drew Haddad and the explosiveness of running backs Ramadii Parker ’96 and Matt Bunsey ’97. Matt set a school single game rushing record during his career with 341 yards against Strongsville.
Hovan and O'Leary, as the Wildcats were preparing for the 1995 Division I state championship game against Brunswick (Saint Ignatius 41-21 in Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium), echoed almost the same sentiments.
O’Leary, who combined leadership with exceptional receiving and blocking skills, spoke of the unselfishness and versatility of the ’95 Wildcats and the special binding that came together week after week, a chemistry that led to a 14-0 record, the program’s third national title and a seventh, five-in-a-row capper state championship.
“I remember how close our teams were from 1993 to 1995,” Dan told this corner in 2009 while we were doing a special tribute magazine on Coach Kyle’s first 10 state championship teams. “We always ate pre-game dinners at each other’s homes, and we frequently had discussions about embracing the moment we were in and taking advantage of it. After every victory, we sang the same songs on the bus ride back to school, and I always looked forward to praying in the mall after games and singing the alma mater.
“We were very fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people,” Dan continued.
And none had a greater impact than O’Leary, who went on to captain the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans.
Dan’s ability as a long snapper played a significant role in his NFL career and he emphasized that he will always remember his first game as a long snapper for the Saint Ignatius varsity – the legendary 35-34, triple-overtime victory over St. Edward during his sophomore year. Now that’s a baptism of fire.
A three-sport, six-letter winning athlete at Saint Ignatius (football, baseball and basketball), Dan added first-team All-Northeast Lakes District, Plain Dealer seven-county “Best of the Best” and All-Independent honors to his All-Ohio credentials. He was voted by his coaches and teammates as the Most Valuable Special Teams player and co-Most Valuable Receiver.
O’Leary will be inducted into the Wildcats’ Athletic Hall of Fame in August.
On a personal note, Dan and his wife, Kathleen “Kate” are the proud parents of Shane (5), Ryan (3) and Colin (born on June 24). Dan is employed by The Garland Co. in Cleveland, a manufacturer of high performance roofing material. Garland has been in business since 1895.
HERE ARE THE BIOS ON NEXT MONTH’S OTHER INDUCTEES, AS PRODUCED BY THE ATHLETICS AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENTS.
TIMOTHY J. GAUNTNER ’59
Football/Track: Tim was a two-year letter winner in football as a center and nose guard. He served as a co-captain his senior year when he was named to the All-Scholastic and All-West Senate football teams. Tim was also a three-year letter winner in track, a school record holder and a captain his senior year. He played college football at John Carroll University, where he was named The Cleveland Touchdown Club’s 1962 Player of the Year. He was also first-team All-Conference that year and captain of a JCU defense that set four national records. He is a member of John Carroll University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
DAN STEFANCIN ’77
Wrestling: Dan was one of the top grapplers ever produced by the Wildcats. He wrestled three varsity seasons, twice winning his weight class in the grueling Senate competition of 1976 and 1977. Dan was the first Saint Ignatius wrestler to win a Senate title. He was a two-time champion at the Brunswick Invitational and was chosen as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of that event his senior year. He capped off his high school career by leading the 1976-77 team to the only undefeated regular season in the school's history and placing second at 105 pounds during the State Championship meet in Columbus. His Saint Ignatius career winning percentage surpassed 82% and he held virtually every school wrestling record at the time of his graduation. Dan went on to become a two-time All-American at John Carroll University and is a member of JCU’s Hall of Fame. He served as an assistant coach for the Wildcats for a number of seasons, including the 1988 State Championship season.
Congratulations from the corner go out to all three of these outstanding gentlemen and to Dan O'Leary, thanks for the memories.
In the words of the late, great Plain Dealer Stark County Sports Columnist Hymie Williams, "Good Bye until the next time, which will be the best time."
SEE YOU AT MINI CAMP 5 ON JULY 24.