The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
LEC announces football coach won’t return in ’19
The Lake Erie football program is on hard times, and is again looking for a new head coach.
On Nov. 10, after the Storm lost at home to Ohio Dominican, 62-6, to finish their season 0-11, the LEC athletic department announced in a statement Jerry Hazzard would not return as head coach.
It’s the third head coaching change since the 2016 season for the football program.
Hazard has been with the program since its inception in 2007 as offensive coordinator and then as interim head coach midway through the 2016 season, then as full-time coach in 2017 and 2018.
“We appreciate Coach Hazzard’s commitment to our program from the beginning,” said LEC athletic director Kelley Kish. “Just concluding our second season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, I am confident our next head coach will help us develop champions in the classroom, the community and on the field. Lake Erie Storm Football will ascend to a place where our fans, faculty, staff, alumni and community can take pride in our program.”
Hazzard became LEC’s interim coach in 2016 when Mark McNellie, the first coach in program history, resigned after an 0-7 start. The Storm then lost their last four games under Hazzard to finish 0-11. Jeff Horrocks was then hired but lasted five weeks on the job before he resigned.
Two days after Horrocks’ resignation, the school released a statement it became aware of allegations against Horrocks that violated LEC policy.
Immediately after Horrocks resigned, Hazzard was named the full-time coach. In 2017, the Storm were 2-8 under Hazzard with wins over Alderson Broaddus (16-15) and at Kentucky Wesleyan (45-27).
This season, it was an even bigger struggle for LEC as it went winless and was outscored in each game by an average score of 47.910.6. Hazard’s career record as LEC coach was 2-22.
The LEC athletic department also announced a national search for a new football coach will begin immediately.