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HC coach resigns after 13 seasons

Justin Kropka

CADIZ — Justin Kropka called proposing to his wife, Trina, the easiest decision he ever made.

He’s now officially made the toughest decision of his life, too.

Kropka — after 13 seasons at the helm — resigned as head football coach at Harrison Central. He submitted his letter to Athletic Director Ray Hibbs, Principal Ken Parker and met with his now former team Friday morning.

“It’s definitely a sad day for me,” Kropka said. “I knew this day would eventually come, and I knew it was going to hurt bad, but I didn’t know just how bad. I realized it (Friday) because it hurts really bad. Harrison Central football is like my third child. I’ve watched it grow up and watched kids grow up and become men.”

The chief reason for Kropka’s decision was professional advancement. The Martins Ferry and Ohio University alumnus plans to pursue an opportunity to coach at the college level.

“Initially, I wasn’t sure about it, but these opportunities don’t come around all the time, so it became something that I felt like I had to take a look at,” Kropka said.

Though Kropka is moving up the ranks, it didn’t make the decision any easier. After all, he inherited a program that had won just nine of its first 60 games in program history. He leaves with three OHSAA playoff berths and a career record of 73-57.

“Saying I love Harrison Central is a massive understatement,” Kropka said. “I am heart broken to be leaving this program. But, I can leave knowing that I’ve given the school, program and community every bit of my heart and soul for 14 years and wouldn’t take a second back. What we’ve been able to do and build has been incredible.”

Kropka literally grew up, in coaching, as a Huskie. After all, he was hired after eight seasons as an assistant at his alma mater at the ripe, old age of 27.

“Let’s be honest, when I was hired, I was a kid,” Kropka said. “I was full of energy, and that’s actually something I think Harrison Central needed. I wasn’t from (Harrison) and I just attacked it because that’s the way I did everything. I believed, in my soul, that we could be a good program, so I did it with everything I had.”

In 2009, the Huskies broke down the door on the playoffs and qualified in Division III, losing at Dover. The Huskies never advanced past the first round, falling to eventual state runner-up St. Clairsville in 2012 and at Ridgewood in 2015.

“People doubted and told me I was crazy for even applying the job,” Kropka said. “I genuinely believed in the kids, and they believed in some guy no one had ever heard of when they didn’t have to. It’s been special to be a part of that. Being there when we qualified for the playoffs was really something I’ll never forget. It was a special moment you can’t re-capture. I am just elated for how far we’ve come.”

Kropka, who was named Division III Eastern District Coach of the Year in 2009, served as the head coach in the Ohio North-South All-Star Game in 2013, called the meeting with his players extremely emotional.

“I had to tell both of my grandfathers goodbye on their death beds, and that’s the only feeling I could compare telling these kids goodbye to,” Kropka said. “I know broken hearts will heal, but it doesn’t make it any easier now.”

Obviously, giving up a football job on the last day of school isn’t ideal for anyone involved. However, Kropka has informed Harrison Central administration that he’s willing to remain involved through the transition.

He will continue to oversee the offseason program, and there are a couple of fundraisers still on the horizon that he’ll see through.

“After they hire (a new coach), I’ll phase myself out, but I am going to be here to offer anything I can,” Kropka said. “This program still matters to me. I didn’t put my life into this to let it fall now. That would make it a waste of 14 years.”

Kropka also pointed out that similar to when he took over for Ron Pobolish, the Huskies’ cupboard isn’t bare for the upcoming season.

“We have 15 starters coming back, including the best tailback (Tyler West) in the Ohio Valley, in my opinion,” Kropka said. “There’s potential for a really good season for the next coach.”

Along with telling his team, Kropka said informing his children (Campbell and Colby) that he was resigning was equally difficult. His son, who is a sports junkie, took the news especially hard.

“Colby has cried for two days,” Kropka said. “He loves Harrison Central football more than anything, and now his dad isn’t going be the head coach anymore. He’s crushed, and so am I.”

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