SBC coaching carousel spins

Rock Farlow is back. And Gary Quisno's in black.

It's hard to believe two coaches with a combined 331 wins take their familiar faces to new settings. But that's what happened.

The Sandusky Bay Conference, which enters its 60th year this fall, saw a major shake-up during a three-month span in the winter, with four schools -- St. Mary Central Catholic, Perkins, Oak Harbor and Margaretta -- welcoming new football coaches.

Farlow joins Margaretta's program, while Quisno takes over at Perkins. Jason Ziegler and Mike May will make their coaching debuts this weekend, when Ziegler leads SMCC against Norwalk St. Paul on Saturday -- one day after May and the Rockets host Springfield.

They'll join a fraternity of coaches like Huron's Tony Legando, Clyde's Marc Gibson, Port Clinton's Toby Hammond and Edison's Jim Hall.

All four had their first public appearance together for the first time July 28 at the SBC Preseason Coaches and Media Luncheon at Sawmill Creek Golf Course in Huron.

Quisno, the first of the four to speak, was encouraged by his hard-working players and the community support he received through the transition. Farlow was right after him, and was beaming about returning to the league.

"It's good to be back," Farlow told the crowd.

"I really appreciate being back in what I think is the best league in the state of Ohio to coach in," Farlow said at the luncheon. "I know people get sick and tired of hearing that, but it's true."

Though Ziegler was an assistant at Perkins, he'll soon experience the feeling of roaming the sideline wearing the No. 1 headset on Fridays and Saturdays.

"It's an honor to be coaching in this league because you've got the Legandos, the Quisnos, the Gibsons, the Farlows, the Halls," he said at the Panthers' photo day Aug. 3. "These guys are great coaches. You've got guys like Coach May who's been a great assistant.

"And you can't forget Coach Hammond," Ziegler said. "I love talking to Coach Hammond. He knows the game of football -- probably better than people I know that are head coaches."

It all began in November with Panthers coach Toby Notestine stepping down after a 5-5 season. In one week in December two more coaches -- Dave Brausch and Don Wilson -- decided to resign. Brausch was coming off a 3-7 year with the Pirates, while Wilson went 1-9 with the Polar Bears.

Then Quisno had the carousel at top speed when he resigned his post with the Rockets after 29 seasons at the helm and an 8-3 mark, including a playoff appearance, in 2007.

Farlow, the league's only head coach to win a state title, and Quisno already have plenty in common with Legando, Gibson and Hammond. All five have steered their teams into a state semifinal appearance: Farlow in the 1999 season when the Pirates won the Division IV crown, Quisno in '99 and 2006, Legando in 1992-93 and again in '98, Gibson in 2005 and Hammond in 1989-90 when he coached St. Mary CC.

Legando, who was the league's dean for about a month during Quisno's "retirement," and Hammond both have state runner-up finishes to their credit -- Legando in 1993 and Hammond in '90.

Zeigler was the first coach hired when the Panthers tabbed him as Notestine's successor in January.

It took almost a month for the next opening to fill, but Perkins landed Quisno and Margaretta followed suit with Farlow the second week of February.

"Everything's been postitive," Quisno said of the change last week. "Guys have jumped on board, and we're looking to have a good year."

May, the only one of the three new coaches who didn't have SBC ties, rounded out the three-month ride when the Rockets appointed him as Quisno's successor at the end of February.

"I've got some big shoes to fill," May said at the luncheon. "When Gary was first a head coach, I was probably in kindergarten eating paste and coloring pictures."

May, who came over from St. Mary's Memorial, is familiar with Gibson. The two met when Gibson was coaching in his native Sidney.

"They always had some tough defenses there," Gibson said of May's teams.

The "Fresh Four" won't have to wait long for their next outing together. All four schools play each other in the first three weeks of the conference schedule.