Lake Catholic coach Woods resigns

Lake Catholic coach Dennis Woods, who recently completed his 50th season on area diamonds, has resigned. Also, Chardon falls to Canfield in a Division II regional semifinal.

“He was a good mentor and he blessed a lot of kids, there’s no doubt about that.”

After 50 years, Dennis Woods decided his head coaching days are finished.

Woods, Lake Catholic’s baseball coach since 2000, announced his resignation at the team’s banquet on May 23.

“It was a very hard season internally for me,” Woods said. “It just became a point of time I said, ‘Hey, you know, (it’s time.)’ ”

Woods leaves the Cougars with 730 career victories, the seventh-most in state history. Lake Catholic went 13-12 this season and was eliminated in a Division I Euclid District semifinal by Mayfield.

Athletic director Sam Colacarro had no communication with Woods prior to his resignation May 23, and said the decision was a surprise.

“He cared,” Colacarro said. “He was one of those coaches that cared, I don’t want to say the underdog, but the kid that maybe others would’ve given up on. He was a good mentor and he blessed a lot of kids, there’s no doubt about that.”

Colacarro said Lake Catholic is immediately accepting applications for the school’s varsity baseball position. Resumes can be sent to scolacarro@ lakecatholic.org. Colacarro anticipates he will accept candidates into the middle of June.

Woods said his heart remains heavy after he announced the decision. He was emotional while he read a letter and passage from Psalm 23 to the team when he shared his decision.

Woods doesn’t feel like his coaching days are completely over. He said he already received a call May 24 from a coach looking to bring him on staff, and he will consider an assistant position.

“I can still throw batting practice,” Woods said. “I can still show the kids how to field ground balls, I can still show them how to bunt, I can still show them how to turn a double play. I can’t throw as hard as I used to but I can still do things at my age. I’m very fortunate that I can.”