LaVerde notches 200th coaching victory at Kirtland
OCHS graduate, former FHS
coach has seven state
titles at tiny Ohio high school
Hornet Stat Crew
Barry Booher/The News-Herald
WEBMASTER'S NOTE -- Tiger LaVerde is a 1991 graduate of Oil City High School. He was head coach at Franklin from 2001-03, posting a 20-10 mark.
​
By JOHN KAMPF
The News-Herald/Willoughby, Ohio
​
The legacy of Kirtland football coach Tiger LaVerde continues to grow.
With the Hornets’ 34-8 decision over Harvey in the season opener Aug. 19, LaVerde notched his 200th win as the Hornets’ head coach. Since taking over the program in 2006, LaVerde is 200-18 (.917).
Including his three years coaching in Pennsylvania, LaVerde’s career record overall is 220-28 (.887).
“It’s something you don’t dream of when you’re coaching,” LaVerde said. “We’ve had a great combination of kids and coaches, kids who are willing to work hard.”
LaVerde’s first win as Kirtland’s head coach was a 45-18 rout of Beachwood on Aug. 26, 2006. His winning percentage of .917 at Kirtland is the highest in OHSAA history, ahead of Newark Catholic’s J.D. Graham (220-30-1, .880).
“I remember a lot about that first game,” LaVerde said. “Rossi Santo, who is on our staff now, was a sophomore and he took a punt back for a touchdown. It’s pretty cool he’s on our staff now.”
With 200 wins in 218 games (at Kirtland), LaVerde reached that plateau faster than any other coach in Ohio history. He's also the third fastest in U.S. history to reach the mark. George Quarles at Maryville, Tenn., and Bob Ladouceur at DeLaSalle in Concord, Calif., did it in 215 games.
LaVerde also:
• Has 137 wins in the last decade, the most in Ohio over that span.
• Is 54-9 in playoff games since taking over the program.
• Has won 10 regional championships and is 10-0 in state semifinals.
• Has led the Hornets to six state titles and four state runner-up finishes.
“It’s been really special,” he said of his tenure at Kirtland. “When I took the job, they had never won a playoff game. We were just trying to sneak in (to the playoffs) and win one. When we broke through and won a state championship in 2011, we broke through and won a bunch. But you never think of that happening. But we showed it’s not a pipe dream anymore.”
In the landmark win over Harvey, Kirtland outgained the Red Raiders, 387-163. Senior son Philip LaVerde ran for 64 yards and two touchdowns, freshman son Jake LaVerde ran for 60 yards and a touchdown, and the Hornets also got TD runs from Gino Blasini and Macguire Boyd.
​
2024 update: Tiger, Kirtland settle for second in state
Kirtland lost to Coldwater, 31-7, on Dec. 7 in the Division VI Ohio state championship game.
It was the sixth runner-up finish for the Hornets, who are coached by Tiger LaVerde, a 1991 OCHS graduate and a Franklin coach from 2001-03.
Kirtland was looking for its eighth state title, but it was the 15-1 Cavaliers who got their eighth.
The Hornets didn't score until the fourth quarter and it was QB Jake LaVerde, Tiger's son, who hit paydirt after a short run. Kirtland, which finished 15-1, played under a running clock for only the second time ever after Coldwater took a 31-0 lead in the third quarter.
Kirtland was in the state finals for the eighth straight year. The Hornets had won 28 straight dating back to last season.
Other Kirtland accomplishments this season:
-
Sixth program in OHSAA history to win eight straight region crowns
-
13th perfect regular season, which have all come since 2008 for an OHSAA best during that stretch
-
LaVerde and son Jake were named to Region 21 team
Kirtland, LaVerde claim another Ohio state title
Tiger LaVerde's Kirtland Hornets whipped Versailles, 32-15, on Dec. 1, 2023, to win the Ohio Class VI state championship.
​
The top-seeded Hornets avenged a 20-16 defeat to the Tigers in last year final. It was the seventh state title for Kirtland and LaVerde, an Oil City High School graduate and former Franklin head coach.
​
LaVerde is 229-20 at Kirtland since 2006 and is 249-30 including his three seasons at Franklin (2001-03).
Kirtland claimed its seventh straight regional crown this season and its 12th trip to the final four in the last 13 years.
​
Kirtland is also one of nine schools in Ohio history with seven state crowns on the gridiron.
​
The Hornets finished 15-1, and have 12 straight wins since losing to Perry in Week 3.
​
LaVerde's son Jake is Kirtland's quarterback. He was the starter last year as a freshman and when his brother, Philip, made all-state as a senior. Jake made second team all-Ohio (Class VI) at QB this season.
​
From the Kirtland Stat Crew: Under Tiger LaVerde and his staff, every KHS class has won at least 35 games, and each of the last 11 classes has won at least one state title and 50-plus games.
Class of 2010 ('06-'09): 35-10
Class of 2011 ('07-'10): 39-8
Class of 2012 ('08-'11): 46-5
Class of 2013 ('09-'12): 48-5
Class of 2014 (110-'13): 56-2
Class of 2015 ('11-'14): 58-2
Class of 2016 (112-'15): 57-3
Class of 2017 ('13-'16): 54-4
Class of 2018 ('14-'17): 53-5
Class of 2019 ('15-'18): 54-4
Class of 2020 ('16-'19): 55-3
Class of 2021 ('17-'20): 55-1
Class of 2022 ('18-'21): 55-1
Class of 2023 ('18-'21): 55-1
Class of 2024 ('20-'23): 55-3