PORT CLINTON — Eric Leuthold has sat under the learning tree of several legendary coaches. Now the 30-year-old former Colonel Crawford player is ready to take on the reins as Port Clinton’s new head football coach.
Leuthold will be officially approved for the position when the school board meets on Monday, March 21.
Most recently, Leuthold worked as middle school athletic director at Liberty-Benton while serving as offensive coordinator for Wapakoneta, which went 9-3 in 2021.
“What I love most about coaching football is the life-long relationships you manufacture with your players and the impact those relationships have,” Leuthold said. ” My players will learn to approach each detail of life with the same ferocity and goal of achieving excellence that we will have on the football field.”
Leuthold played quarterback for recently retired Eagles coach Ryan Teglovic before attending Bowling Green State University.
Teglovic took over the CC program prior to Leuthold’s junior year. Earlier this year he announced he was stepping down, as he battles pancreatic cancer, after compiling a 93-53 record.
“Ryan Teglovic really inspired me to get into coaching,” Leuthold said. “He’s been a phenomenal mentor of mine.”
Most of the former QB Leuthold’s background in coaching is on the offensive side. In addition to Wapakoneta, he’s had stints on the staffs at Liberty-Benton and Ridgedale. He’s worked for ultra-successful coaches in former Wynford boss Travis Moyer and Tim Nichols at L-B.
Leuthold will take over the position which was previously held by Beau Carmon for nine years. Carmon stepped down in January for health and family reasons after leading PC to its best-ever season and a trip to the Ohio Division IV football final four.
Leuthold was chosen from a field of 21 applicants from 5 states to fill the position.
A statement from Port Clinton City Schools reads: “All of his football references as well as his education references talked about Coach Leuthold’s dedication to his players and his students.”
Leuthold also was hired as an Intervention Specialist for the district.
“My family and I are excited to join the Redskin football community,” he said. “It’s something that you work for your whole career. To have the opportunity at a young age is exciting.
“As a program and staff, we will be passionate in our pursuit to teach, lead, and inspire our student-athletes to be the best versions of themselves they can be. I can’t wait to meet the players and get to work.”