NCL disbanding at end of school year

The North Coast League will disband following the 2019-20 school year.

A release from executive secretary Chuck Grimm cited declining membership numbers in the decision to dissolve the league, which has existed since 1984. In August, the NCL announced the conference would disband in football and leave its members as independent programs. The league planned to continue operations in the rest of its sports as an eight-team conference. Basketball programs throughout the league were dissatisfied with a move to a 14-game league schedule that forced coaches to break pre-existing contracts.

In recent years, the NCL lost members in St. Thomas Aquinas, Trinity and Valley Christian. Gilmour, Padua and St. Joseph Academy, an all-girls school, each planned to leave the conference following this school year.

At present, membership includes Lake Catholic, Akron Hoban, Beaumont, Benedictine, Cleveland Central Catholic, Gilmour Academy, Lake Catholic, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Padua, St. Joseph Academy, Villa Angela-St Joseph and Walsh Jesuit.

The league re-organized multiple times in recent years, which increased frustration among member schools.

A group of the soon-tobe-former members of the league plan to explore forming a new conference for the 2021-22 school year.

Lake Catholic and Beaumont plan to compete as an independent in the 2020-21 school year. NDCL, a member of the NCL since 1988, is evaluating its options for the near future. At the moment, the Lions’ football schedule for 2020 is finalized.

Gilmour will spend next year as an independent. Athletic Director Sean O’Toole said the Lancers’ schedules for next year will remain the same.

Geographically, Gilmour — located in Gates Mills — would make a natural fit for the Chagrin Valley Conference, which eyes further expansion after the league added six schools prior to the 2019-20 school year.

O’Toole confirmed Gilmour wants to find a new conference, but the Lancers seek an appropriate fit for their Division V football program.

“It’s great for the kids,” O’Toole said. “They have championships to strive for, the awards, acknowledgements, you get recognized more in the league for your performance rather than just from the state.”