Earlier in the month of May it was announced that Bison head football coach, Mike Gibbons, had accepted the head-coaching job at Highland High School.

He shares previous connections with Highland, serving as their defensive coordinator from 2007-2009.  Previous Highland coach, Gibbons’ brother-in-law, Tom Lombardo, is moving on to become the next head coach at St. Edward High School. Bison receivers coach Jordan Gribble will join Gibbons at Highland.

Gibbons led the 2013 Bison squad to the Division V state playoffs, the first Beachwood team to do so since 1989. Following up on that historic feat, Gibbons also became the first coach to lead the Bison to consecutive playoff appearances, once they qualified in the 2014 campaign.

In those two seasons, the program collected two Chagrin Valley Conference championships, in which they defeated Cuyahoga Heights High School in dramatic fashion both years to clinch the titles.

He compiled an 11-11 record during his Beachwood career.

In his move to Highland, Gibbons will join the talented Division II program that is coming off of an 8-2 season.

In an email, Gibbons reflected on his time at Beachwood.

“I enjoyed my time,” he wrote, citing relationships he formed with players. “I am very thankful for having the opportunity to work at Beachwood.”

Athletic Director Ryan Peters acknowledged Gibbons’ ability to change the image of Beachwood football.

“People believe that we can win. He made big strides from a mental and physical aspect,” Peters said.

“This move was simply in the best interest moving forward in my career,” Gibbons wrote. “It is an amazing opportunity and I could not pass it up.”

According to cleveland.com, Gibbons described his journey in the following: “You get thrown into the water, and you’ve got to find out if you can sink or swim. That’s what I wanted to see in myself as a coach.”

Peters commented about the nature of coaches moving on.

“Beachwood offers a lot for coaches and teachers,” he said.

“The most important thing for my coaching staff is for them to be happy. Obviously, there was something Mike needed more, … prompting him to look at another location,” he said, adding that he wishes Gibbons well.

Junior and four-year-letterman to-be Bennett Woomer discussed the impact Gibbons had on him during his tenure at Beachwood.

“Gibbons was able to give me a better work ethic and taught me how to work through bad or uncomfortable situations,” he said.

“Gibbons was able to give us a mental edge, in the sense that we felt home amidst these situations, and we used this to our advantage.”

Woomer said he feels nothing could have been done to retain Gibbons.

“There is no way we could have taken the steps to keep [him],” Woomer said.

In an interview with The Medina-Gazette, Gibbons acknowledged this communal tightness and dedication that Woomer speaks of.

“I was [at Highland] for three years five years ago, and I saw the community and the players and everything and how tight the community was and how hard the players work. That makes you want to come back here and coach at a place like this — because the players and the community are so strong.”

Highland plans to unveil a $9 million stadium for the upcoming season.

Peters said the search is on for a new coach.

“Interviews have been going on,” he said. He added that 70 candidates have applied for the position, including former head coaches and state champions.

“We are looking for someone who can connect with our kids and take our program to the next level,” Peters said.

Regardless of the selected individual’s identity, the next coach will be Beachwood’s third in four years.