Chuck Kyle of St. Ignatius is universally acclaimed as the greatest high school football coach in Ohio history.
Since graduating from John Carroll University as an English major in 1973, he has held one job — English teacher and football and track coach at his high school alma mater.

After 10 years as an assistant he was elevated to head coach in 1983 and in 30 seasons his teams have compiled an astonishing record of 301 victories, 69 losses and one tie. His Wildcats have captured 11 state championships and have been awarded three mythical national championships in 1989, 1993 and 1995. They have qualified for the state football playoffs 24 of the last 25 years and along the way posted winning streaks of 39 games and 38 games.

The 62-year-old Kyle has collected innumerable personal awards. He was the Nike National Coach of the Year in 2001 and the Schutt National Coach of the Year in 2008. He has been Ohio coach of the year four times.

Chuck served as a head coach in the 1989 Cuyahoga County East-West all-star game and in the 1994 “Big 33 Game” matching all-star teams from Ohio and Pennsylvania. In 2009 he was head coach of the United States team that won the world junior championship.

He is revered as an English teacher. In addition to sophomore English, he teaches Chaucer and Shakespeare as a senior elective. By the way, he still coaches the track team.

Chuck and his wife, Patricia, who teaches art at St. Ignatius, raised three daughters and one son. They live in Westlake.

Clinton Jones made track’s loss, football’s gain.

A standout hurdler at Cathedral Latin School, the powerful Jones scored only three touchdowns for the Lions during a three-year career shortened by injuries. But a self-commitment to excel on the gridiron transformed Jones into a powerful force during his collegiate career at Michigan State and with the Minnesota Vikings.

As a three-year letterman from 1964 to 1966 under MSU coach Duffy Daugherty, Jones accounted for 2,549 career all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns. He led the Spartans in rushing and all-purpose yards his final two seasons while helping the Spartans to a combined record of 19-1-1, winning consecutive Big Ten championships in 1965 and 1966.

He led the Big Ten in scoring in 1965 when he scored 11 touchdowns and 68 points. As co-captain in 1966, he helped the Spartans go 9-0-1 and a No. 2 national ranking after the controversial 10-10 tie with Notre Dame. He earned All-Big Ten and All-American honors those years, finishing sixth in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior. He continued to run track in the spring for the Spartans, earning conference honors in hurdling events.

Jones was selected No. 2 overall by Minnesota in the 1967 National Football League Draft, MSU teammate Charles “Bubba” Smith going No. 1 to the Baltimore Colts. In seven NFL seasons, six with the Vikings, he accounted for 5,035 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns. The Vikings won three division titles and he played in the 1970 Super Bowl against Kansas City. He finished his career with San Diego in 1973.

He went on to become a licensed chiropractic doctor in 1981 and has practiced with his wife, Rosielee, in California for more than 30 years.

Arthur B. (Mickey) McBride is one of the most important sports figures in Cleveland history for two reasons. First, he founded the Cleveland Browns in 1946 and, second, he hired Paul Brown to coach them.

McBride started his business career as a newsboy on the south side of Chicago in the late 1890’s, defending his corner with his fists and with his guile. At the age of 23 he was circulation director of the Chicago American. Three years later in 1913 the Cleveland News hired him as its circulation director.

The resourceful McBride eventually expanded his horizons. In 1931 he bought a half interest in Zone Cab and in 1933 he bought Yellow Cab. He invested in real estate in Cleveland, Chicago and Florida. He bought a printing company and a horse racing wire service.

He became interested in football in the early 1940s when his son, Art Jr., was a student at the University of Notre Dame. In 1942 he attempted to buy the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League from owner Dan Reeves, who rejected his overture. Consequently, when the All-America Football Conference was launched, McBride purchased a franchise for $50,000 and put Paul Brown on the payroll when he was still in the Navy. He also signed players and began paying them, such as Lou Groza and Dante Lavelli, when they were still in the service overseas. In 1950 McBride navigated the Browns into the NFL. In seven years under McBride’s ownership the Browns won five championships and had a record of 83-13-3. They rightfully called themselves the greatest show in football. McBride sold the Browns in 1953 to a Cleveland syndicate for $600,000.

He also contributed to the lexicon of pro football with his “Cab Squad,” giving borderline players jobs driving cabs until they were needed. The cab companies are still owned by his family.

The left-handed quarterback was a member of Chanel High School’s first graduating class in 1961 and went on to star at Miami of Ohio and later with the Cleveland Browns, where he made all-pro.

At Miami he was an all-conference signal caller for three straight years from 1962-64. He is still Miami’s all-time total offense leader with 3,978 yards. His 88-yard touchdown pass led to a 10-7 victory over Purdue, which was called the biggest upset of the 1962 college season.

Ernie was drafted in the 12th round of the 1965 draft by the Dallas Cowboys, who already had Don Meredith firmly entrenched at quarterback, so they moved him to defensive back. In those days it was not uncommon to move an athletic quarterback to defensive back. Although Ernie had not played defense since high school, he was a quick learner and was making progress. But when the final cuts were made, Ernie was released. He was determined, however, to play pro football and his resolve paid off.

Acting on a recommendation from Miami coach Bo Schembechler, Browns coach Blanton Collier signed Ernie to the Browns’ taxi squad in 1965. He practiced with the Browns but never dressed for a game.

In 1966, however, an injury created an opportunity at safety and Ernie seized the chance. He started most of the season and intercepted three passes. He went on to start for five seasons and was a key backup for a sixth campaign. Ernie was a starting safety in the 1969 Pro Bowl. The Browns made the playoffs four times with him in the lineup.

After being cut by the Browns, he hooked on with the Cincinnati Bengals for the 1972 season and with Buffalo for the ’73 campaign. Ernie then retired and remained in business in the Cleveland area.