Mentor coach has pick for successor

Who’s got next?

That’s the big question everyone is pondering in regard to the Mentor football program.

It’s no secret that Coach Steve Trivisonno is stepping down after this current season, ending a highly successful 23-year run as the head coach at his alma mater.

But who is next? Trivisonno said he isn’t part of the selection process, but told The News-Herald that he endorses a current member of his staff, offensive coordinator Matt Gray.

“Hopefully they go that way. But it’s not my decision,” Trivisonno told The News-Herald.

Gray is the Mentor offensive coordinator. He is an intervention specialist at the school.

“I’ve groomed him well and prepared him for the job,” Trivisonno said. “This year I’ve given him a lot more tasks, from fundraising to working with the booster clubs and taking care of the kids. He’s welltrained and well-prepared. We’ve done a good job preparing him for this — he’s going to be a great one.”

Mentor Public Schools won’t officially post the head coaching position until after the state football championship weekend in December. Mentor athletic director Jeff Cassella said the school district is required to post the job internally.

Cassella hopes to have a new football coach in place by Jan. 1.

“Once we post it internally, we’ll start the interview process, the principal (Jason Crowe) and I,” Cassella said. “I’m sure we’ll have candidates because of the nature of the program. We’ll see who applies.”

Former Mentor assistants — specifically former offensive coordinators — have gone on to

head coaching positions at other schools. Jeff Grubich was a Mentor assistant before taking over the head coaching spot at Kenston, and Jeff Fink was the OC at Mentor before taking the Brush position. Since then, Fink has moved on to be the offensive coordinator at John Carroll University.

A few others on Mentor’s staff also have been with Trivisonno since he first took the job — quarterbacks coach Nes Janiak and defensive coordinator Jim Funk — though it’s unknown if they have an interest in the job.

“I’d think it’d be a popular job,” Trivisonno said. “In today’s day and age, a school district also has to match up teaching positions (when hiring a coach). A lot goes into it. But I think it’s one of the premier jobs in the state.”

Cassella said: “I got a couple emails from people reaching out to me (externally),” about the job, but no official inquiries or applications have been submitted.

“We’ll post it after the state finals,” Cassella said. “We hope to have someone in place by the first of January.”

If Trivisonno has any say, it will be Matt Gray.

Gray