Football coach John Arlesic may have resigned in December after 13 years, but his legacy lives on through his players and their success.

“I was upset,” junior and wide receiver Keshun Jones said after Arlesic’s resignation. “I created a bond with him; he always did his best and was always looking out for us.”

Arlesic leaves as the only coach to beat both Ravenna and Kent in a single season, and after leading many of his alumni to continue their craft in college, as it was with graduates Alex Todd and Carrington Hanna.

Todd received a scholarship to Indiana University for football, and Hanna went on to University of California in PA, then switched to Sioux Falls University, and was a starter on the World Championship United States football team in 2015. Other graduates, such as Dorian Williams who went to Princeton University and Corey Lanterman who went to Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“Coach Arlesic has had a large impact on not only my playing career, but my life,” Hanna said.

“Coach taught me a lot about life through the game of football. He taught me how to be accountable not only for myself but for others. He taught me how to lead by example, and how to be a successful man, student and player. Most of all, he taught me selflessness and discipline. He always stressed no one is more important or above the team. And through that discipline you can reach any goal you set in life… I am truly saddened by the news of his [resignation] and truly believe that his presence will be missed.”

Arlesic also assisted Hanna in securing multiple football scholarships and was with him through the entire recruitment process.

The pattern continues this year with senior Dakari Carter signing with the University of Toledo for football.

Arlesic may be known for his coaching, but he did even more for his players off the field.

As a teacher here in the district, he had direct access to each player’s grades, disciplinary actions and other issues within the school, and was able to address the guys during and after the school day.

Not only did many former football players go on to further their academic and athletic careers in college, but a large percentage also joined the military.

Arlesic impacted the football program at Streetsboro in other ways as well. He helped advocate for the Junior Rockets when they were asked to leave the Portage Trail Youth Football League, thus helping them gain acceptance into the Western Reserve Youth Football League.

He went on to take a post on the Junior Rockets board to help oversee the team, at the request of the WRYFL.

In 2006, Arlesic — along with Dr. Sam Lewis and Al Oktavec — started the Streetsboro Gridiron Club to help with the costs of not only the football team, but all sports through grades  K-12.

His influence does not stop there, for Arlesic and his wife, Gina, were at the forefront of helping with levy or bond issue. Specifically, they helped advocate for renovations on the old weight room to double its size and amount of equipment. The weight room’s construction and makeover was made possible by a grant written to Lowe’s by Gina Arlesic.

The power duo also helped promote the construction of the new stadium and field house, an effort many athletes will be grateful for in the coming season.

Arlesic, however, will miss the opportunity to coach in the new stadium and lead his son, sophomore Ty Arlesic, in his last two years of high school.

“[I will miss] the players and coaches, the camaraderie, the day-to-day interaction, knowing that I had an influence on someone’s life not just today, but 30 or 40 years from now,” Arlesic said. “[I loved seeing] the success of all the athletes that they had after they graduated from SHS, not just athletically, but academically and in military. I think that’s a longer lasting effect than football games on Friday night.”