How to nominate for the Columbus Dispatch’s Athletes of the Week
Here’s how to nominate students for the Columbus Dispatch’s athletes of the week ballots for the 2023-2024 school year.
After leading the Olentangy Liberty hockey team to some late-season success as interim coach, Jonathon Falvo has been named head coach, pending school board approval.
Falvo was named interim coach after head coach Kevin Alexander and two assistants were placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 20 amid a school district investigation. Alexander resigned Feb. 28, and assistants Darwin McClelland and Richard Smith also resigned.
Alexander led the Patriots for nearly seven seasons and guided them to the 2023 state title, the first won by a central Ohio hockey team.
“The boys know what they’re getting from me – a very mellow coach who wants them to succeed both on and off the ice,” Falvo said. “Mistakes are made in hockey. It’s a sport, you’re on ice, you have skates on your feet and mistakes are made. We just have to be able to accept it and move on and do a course correction when needed.”
Falvo, 35, was offered the position Friday by athletic director Darin Meeker.
“Darin called me (Friday) and laid out the expectations for the program, and for the kids, and what he needs from me to make sure the program is in the right direction, and for me to support the kids as best as possible,” Falvo said.
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Under Falvo, who previously coached the junior varsity, Liberty advanced to the regional final but lost to St. Charles 4-2 to finish 24-11-0-1.
“(Falvo) is a familiar presence since he has been with the program the past four years,” Meeker said. “He is very passionate about the game, but even more so on helping develop his players into becoming young men.”
Although the school district initially declined to detail the allegations against Alexander, McClelland and Smith, in announcing the resignations it said it had received “reports that the former coaches used inappropriate language with student athletes and behaved in a manner inconsistent with their duty to serve as role models.”
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A dentist in Lewis Center, Falvo has yet to determine his assistant coaches.
“All the boys reached out to me,” he said. “They’re excited for the season and they’re excited to get to work and…
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