By Brian Coman

Special Contribution to Portage Sports

Every coach has been inspired by someone along the way.

The “Coach Who Inspired Me” series celebrates the stories and people who influenced today’s high-school coaches in Portage County.

Today, Ravenna football coach Brian Coman tells his story about the coach who made the biggest impact on him.

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This is a great question.

However, before I answer the question about the coach who inspired me the most, I would like to say thank you to several of my coaches.

   • My high school football coach Joe Leigh and his staff.

STEVE REEDY

   • My college coach Jim Tressel and his staff.

   • My high school track coach Bill Marrow.

   • I also want to thank my youth coaches.

That being said, the coach who inspired me the most was Steve Reedy.

He was my linebackers coach at Ravenna High School.

He inspired me to go 100 percent from the start of practice until the end.

Our individuals drills started everyday with a full-contact tackling circuit.

Coach Reedy’s saying was, “You’re either a man or a mouse.”

Meaning that if you worked hard at the game, then you’ll dominate your opponents.

He took the time to get to know his players.

If we achieved a certain goal, he took us to Pondarosa Steakhouse for dinner.

As a player, knowing that he played linebacker at Ravenna High School and accomplished all the accolades that he accomplished, made us know that it was possible.

He was an All-Metro linebacker and a state championship wrestler in high school so that was inspirational in itself.

During the 1987 season, we had three linebackers make the All-Metro League team.