Ex-CSU coach set to take over at West Geauga

You never know what a phone call could lead to.

Because of a random phone call, Ben Stehura — the former head wrestling coach at Cleveland State University — is the new head wrestling coach at West Geauga High School.

Stehura has signed a letter of intent to be the new coach, said West Geauga athletic director Tim Skoczen, and is up for official board-of-education approval in the August meeting at the school.

“We’re really excited to have a guy who was the head coach at Cleveland State,” Skoczen said. “He’s a phenomenal guy. I am impressed with him. We really lucked out on this one.”

How the paths of Skoczen and Stehura crossed amazes both parties.

“It was such a coincidence how it happened,” Stehura said. “They called me for a reference on one of my former athletes. We started talking, and it just went from there.”

Stehura is a 1996 graduate of Jefferson and a 2000 graduate of Lock Haven, where he wrestled collegiately.

Stehura was the head wrestling coach at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., for five years, then came to Cleveland State. He was the head coach at CSU for 10 years until stepping down after this past season.

Stehura, who lives in Mayfield, will not teach at West Geauga. Rather, he is working on his certification to get his administrative license.

“I’m excited for the opportunity at West Geauga,” Stehura said.

Stehura takes over the program from longtime coach Joe Marino, who stepped down after last season.

“We did have a lot of interest,” Skoczen said. “In the wrestling community, everyone knows everyone. We were looking for someone of Ben’s caliber, someone looking to make a home in the educational field. We’re excited how it worked out.”

The Stehura hiring is the latest of three coaching hires at West Geauga. Adam Sopkovich has taken over the reins of the football program, which opens fall practice on July 30. More recently, Bob Beutel was named the new girls basketball coach.

In yet another move, Skoczen, who came aboard as interim athletic director in February, has signed up for another year leading the West Geauga athletic department after previously retiring from Independence High School.

“Coach Sopkovich has been tremendous. He’s working with the track kids, too,” Skoczen said. “Bob Beutel is obviously a guy who is able to draw kids into programs and succeed. I think we have kids walking the halls that could really be great components of our program.

“With Bob, Adam and Ben, they all talk about youth programs being big parts of their programs.”

As for him re-upping as West Geauga’s AD, Skoczen said he is energized.

“What I missed were the coaches and the kids,” he said of his retirement from Independence. “It’s good to be around this group. (Former AD) Joe Leonette did a great job getting a majority of the fall schedules done before he left. It was crazy stepping in Feb. 5 at the end of the winter season, but I’m so glad it happened that way.”