Beachwood will not rehire Creel as coach

Beachwood will reportedly not rehire Damion Creel as its football coach. The school cited a recruiting allegation in an email to players and families. Creel said he’s ‘hurt and disappointed’ by the decision.

Beachwood is in search of a new football coach after the school announced earlier this week that Damion Creel will not be rehired as the coach for the 2019 season.

The story was originally reported by the Cleveland Jewish News, which cited an email addressed to players and their families on March 18.

According to the email, sent jointly by Superintendent Robert P. Hardis, Athletic Director Ryan Peters and Principal Tony Srithai, the decision to not rehire Creel “is rooted in the findings of an investigation into recruiting allegations made by an anonymous source several months ago.”

Phone calls to Peters and Srithai for comment were not immediately returned.

Beachwood finished last season with a 6-4 record. The Bison were 6-2 before ending the regular season with losses to Chagrin Falls and Orange, keeping them out of the Division V playoffs.

“As I teach my children and the students I work with, we can only control ourselves, our choices and our actions,” Creel responded in a text message. “I loved coaching football at Beachwood and was looking forward to the coming season. I went to work every day with the goal of growing young men who believe in themselves and who learn how to handle adversity like this with respect.

“Coaching football is a big part of who I am. I was hurt and disappointed to learn that the Superintendent won’t be recommending to the School Board that they renew my coaching contract.”

Creel said he continues to teach at the middle school.

The head coaching job and assistant coaching jobs at Beachwood have been posted on the OHSAA’s website.