Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio --- Chuck Kyle of St. Ignatius High School is used to being at the controls of a football juggernaut.
Kyle has led the Cleveland school to nine Division I state titles in Ohio since 1988 and three mythical high school national titles, owning a career record of 248-56-1. Next June, Kyle could be heading another gridiron power.
The Buckeye State legend was named the head coach of the United States’ first junior national football team Wednesday, which will compete in the International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship June 27-July 5, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. The event will be held once every four years.
“I may teach English, but I appreciate history,” Kyle said. “This is a historic, pioneering team, and I am excited to be a part of it. I’m proud to represent the United States. I’ve quickly learned how strong football is beyond our borders. We have a challenge ahead of us, and I look forward to getting our team ready to play in Canton next summer.”
Team USA will participate in a field of eight countries from four continents. The squad will feature players entering their collegiate freshman year in fall 2009. Canada and the United States will be included as automatic qualifiers, with the Canadian team holding the top seed based on a long history of strong junior national team play.
“Chuck Kyle personifies everything we were looking for in Team USA’s head coach,” USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said. “Beyond his remarkable record and litany of accolades, he is a teacher in the classroom and on the field. For 25 years and running, his program melds class with excellence. Speaking as a football fan, it will be exciting to watch Coach and his staff lead our country’s top high school-aged players against the world’s best national teams.”
All 50 state high school athletic associations and the District of Columbia are invited to nominate at least 10 players to compose a talent pool from which Team USA’s coaching staff will select its roster in spring 2009. Kyle will select Team USA’s coaching staff prior to the kickoff of the 2008 high school football season.