Two Ohio football programs get new coaches

One of the more successful Division IV coaches the last four seasons will try to revive a former state power.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ben Malbasa is leaving Elyria Catholic (Elyria) to take over as football coach at Benedictine (Cleveland).

Malbasa led the Panthers to a 31-12 record and playoff berths in 2007 as well as this fall, when his team beat eventual Division IV state-champion Bishop Hartley (Columbus) 34-28 during the regular season. Elyria Catholic (Elyria) went on to advance to a Region 14 semifinal.

Benedictine (Cleveland) won Division III state titles in 2003 and '04 but has endured six consecutive losing seasons. Former coach Art Bortnick went 65-61 in 11 seasons before resigning in October.

Malbasa is a University School (Hunting Valley) graduate, and the move to Benedictine (Cleveland) returns him to Cuyahoga County.

"I have mixed feelings," Malbasa told the Plain Dealer. "There's great administrators at Elyria Catholic, but more importantly the kids are great. But this is a good opportunity. I'm going from one (football) program with a great tradition to another program with great tradition and, of course, Benedictine is closer to my home."

GIBSON TO COACH SHAKER HEIGHTS
The Shaker Heights football team, which went 2-8 last season and hasn't made the Division I playoffs since 2005, has hired Jarvis Gibson as its new coach according to the Plain Dealer.

Gibson coached the last two seasons at St. Peter Chanel (Bedford) before resigning in November after his team went 2-7. The Firebirds, who compete in Division VI, Region 21, went 4-5 in 2009.

Before taking over at St. Peter Chanel (Bedford), Gibson led Cleveland South to a 30-14 record in five seasons including its only playoff appearance in 2007 before it closed its doors.

Gibson replaces Anthony Watkins, who stepped down after going 9-21 in three seasons.

RECRUITING NEWS
Hoban (Akron) junior defensive linemen Latroy Lewis and Greg McMullen will begin to narrow their college list after the new year, coach Ralph Orsini told the Akron Beacon Journal. Orsini said that Ohio State is in the top two for both players. … Cleveland Heights' Kyle Dodson received a scholarship offer earlier this week from Michigan State, according to ScoutingOhio.com. Dodson is a 6-6, 310-pound junior defensive tackle. … According to various news outlets including the Akron Beacon Journal, St. Vincent-St. Mary's (Akron) cornerback Doran Grant took an official visit last weekend to Ohio State. He visited Michigan State earlier this month.

Jarrod Ulrey covers Central and Northern Ohio for MaxPreps.com. He covers prep sports for ThisWeekSPORTS.com and can be reached at julrey@thisweeknews.com.