Elyria Catholic parts ways with coach

Elyria Catholic will start the offseason by searching for a new coach.

Athletic Director Jack Duffy announced on Oct. 29 in a press release that the Panthers were parting ways with coach Dave Stupka.

Stupka took over the Elyria Catholic program in 2015. In his three years, the Panthers went 1515, including an 8-10 record in the Great Lakes Conference.

Elyria Catholic was 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the GLC during Stupka’s first two years, with the Panthers going 3-7 overall and 2-4 in the GLC this past season.

Stupka oversaw 12 All-Ohio players during his first two years, and that number could grow as the All-Ohio teams have yet to be decided for the 2017 season.

“We are appreciative of Coach Stupka’s service to our football program and players over the past three

seasons,” Duffy said in the release. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Prior to his time at Elyria Catholic, Stupka had stops at St. Peter Chanel, Midpark and Lutheran West. In 2006, he was named the Associated

Press Division V Coach of the Year while at St. Peter Chanel when he led the Firebirds to a playoff berth and a 10-2 record.

Elyria Catholic is the first school to search for a new coach this year. Following a mass exodus of

Morning Journal area coaches last year, a new Panthers coach will mark the 11th new football coach in the last two years.

Additionally, whoever is hired will be the third Panthers coach since Mike Polevacik was hired in 2011.