COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Shawn Cutright has memories for a lifetime after 18 years of coaching football at Colerain High School.
That's why Cutright's decision to step down this week as head football coach occurred after plenty of thoughtful consideration.
"It was a family decision that I do this," Cutright said Friday morning. "It wasn't one that was taken lightly. It wasn't one that was easy to make. I really do enjoy football. I really do enjoy this place. And I just want to make sure everybody knows that I appreciate the opportunity to be here and coach here. And those memories will last a lifetime."
Cutright had a 26-18 record as the Colerain head coach the past four seasons including four consecutive playoff appearances.
Cutright, who arrived at Colerain in 2005, earned a 181-43 career record at the Greater Miami Conference program including his time as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator.
"You don't go 181-43 by mistake," Colerain athletic director Matt Stoinoff said. "The guy knows football. I played for him. He coached me and I coached with him. So everything that 'Coach Cut' has done for Colerain High School football, for this community including our middle schools, our youth programs has been absolutely unbelievable."
Colerain was 11-2 and a Division I regional finalist in 2019 during Cutright's first season as the Cardinals' head coach. The Cardinals were 6-3 during the shortened 2020 season and a regional semifinalist. Colerain had a 5-6 record in 2021 and was 4-7 this season.
"It's not all about the wins and the losses," Cutright said. "And I have been fortunate to coach a lot of good players and have a lot of good teams that I have been a part of. It's more about the families and the community. It's just a special place where people sort of rally behind the football team. They give tremendous support."
Cutright was named the Colerain head coach in December 2018.He was the Cardinals' defensive coordinator the past 11 years prior to taking over as head coach. He succeeded Tom Bolden, who left in December 2018 to become the Lakota West head coach.
During Cutright's tenure as defensive coordinator, Colerain earned 120 wins, 11 consecutive Greater Miami Conference titles, 10 playoff appearances, three regional titles and the 2018 state runner-up finish. The Cardinals allowed just 16 touchdowns in 15 games during the 2018 season.
Cutright, a West Virginia native, joined the Colerain staff in 2005 under then-head coach Kerry Coombs.
Prior to Colerain, he was previously a defensive coordinator for Northside High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He was also the varsity baseball coach (2003-05). Prior to that, he coached football, boys' basketball and softball at Franklin High School.
Cutright said he doesn't have any immediate plans for coaching in the near future, but plans to spend more time with his family.
"You never want to say you'll never taken an opportunity to go here or go there," Cutright said. "But, I have no plans other than be a dad and a husband and enjoy my family some more. I do a wonderful family. I am blessed in that way for many reasons. Three kids, a wonderful life. So I'm just going to relax a little bit, enjoying spending some time with them especially over the holidays. And then figure out what the next chapter in this big book of life for me. The gratitude that I have toward Colerain and this community is huge and I can't thank them enough."
Colerain High School posted the head football coaching position opportunity on Twitter shortly before 8 a.m. Friday. Stoinoff said there is significant interest in the position and he is hopeful of naming the new head coach within the next two or three weeks.
