Quisno headed to Perkins

2/21/2008

Former Oak Harbor football coach Gary Quisno, who has won 224 games in 31 years as a head coach, will take over the program at Sandusky Perkins.

Quisno, who resigned as the Rockets head coach last month, said the decision to move from one Sandusky Bay Conference school to another was not done lightly.

"I had 29 great years at Oak Harbor," Quisno said. "I have great friends there. It was a great run. But I just felt like it was time to go in a different direction."

Quisno was unanimously selected by a search committee, but the Perkins board of education still must approve the hiring at its meeting next month.

Quisno was 224-83 with the Rockets, captured eight league titles (Suburban Lakes League and SBC) and made eight playoff appearances at Oak Harbor. He led the Rockets to regional crowns in 1999 and 2006. The Rockets were 8-3 this past season, losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Overall he is 237-90 as a head coach, including a 13-7 mark and two Mid-Ohio Conference titles in two seasons at Danbury.

Quisno takes over at Perkins for Dave Brausch, who resigned in December. Brausch had a 15-16 record in three years, including a 3-7 mark in 2007.

"When I resigned I had no intention of pursuing another head coaching position, especially in the SBC," Quisno said.

He said he was seeking an assistant coaching position. But Perkins athletic director Mike Strohl contacted Quisno and asked him if he would be interested in the head coaching vacancy.

"I was flattered by the whole thing," he said.

After meeting with the search committee, both Quisno and the Perkins officials were sold.

"It's a good fit and a good challenge," he said.

Quisno said the thing that bothered him most was leaving his players.

"I hope at some point they'll realize why I had to make the move," he said. "The community has been very supportive."

Quisno, who teaches math at Oak Harbor, said he hopes to take a teaching or administrative position within the Perkins district.

The Pirates went 8-3 and qualified for the playoffs in 2006.

"They have good numbers and good athletes," Quisno said. "At this point maybe it just needs a boost and I hope I can bring that enthusiasm and work ethic."

- Mark Monroe