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Max Preps Names Chuck Kyle '69 the 6th Best HS Football Coach of All-Time

By Joe Ginley, 09/14/18, 2:45PM EDT

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Coaches at the high school level do not coach for accolades or for personal glory, especially at Saint Ignatius High School. Head Football Coach Chuck Kyle '69 is no different. Recognition is a bonus.

An unexpected bonus arrived on Thursday. Max Preps named the Wildcats' longtime head football coach as the No. 6 high school head football coach in the country – of all-time.

Max Preps did not rank coaches based on opinion, but on a specific formula. Max Preps explained its system as such:

"Using a ranking formula that takes into account wins, average wins per year, winning percentage, state titles, national championships and state championship percentage, MaxPreps has come up with a list of the Top 50 Greatest High School Football Coaches of All Time [...] In order for a coach to be ranked using the formula, that coach need to have at least 375 wins, or at least 10 state championships, or at least one national championship. National championships were those selected by either the National Sports News Service, USA Today, the National Prep Poll or MaxPreps. Coaches with a national championship but less than 10 years coaching high school football were not considered."

Coach Kyle earned his way onto the list on the basis of his 11 state championships and four national titles. 

Following last week's 21-6 win over Euclid, Kyle has a 346-89-1 overall record. In 35 seasons, Kyle averages 10 wins per season and owns a .798 winning percentage. The Wildcats stand first all-time in OHSAA history with 11 state championships. 

Kyle stands as the fifth-winningest football coach in Ohio history. Only Manchester's Jim France (385) and Steubenville's Reno Saccoccia (383) have more wins among active coaches than Kyle. The English teacher and Shakespeare scholar has the most wins in Wildcats football history and is five wins away from recording more wins than every other Saint Ignatius head coach combined. 

Kyle and the Football Cats will look for his 347th win on Friday. The Wildcats will face COF Academy at Fortress Obetz at 7 pm. The SIBN will have live coverage of the game.