Austin Peay defensive coordinator Chris Kappas hired as Louisville High School football coach
LOUISVILLE — A college football coach is Louisville High School's pick to be its new head football coach.
The Louisville City School District announced Thursday morning it will recommend Chris Kappas as the Leopards new head football coach at the Board of Education meeting at 6:30 p.m., Monday. He replaces Troy Davis, who resigned in November after three seasons as Louisville's head coach.
Kappas, who played college football at Mount Union, has spent the last decade coaching in college. He comes to Louisville after spending the last three season as the defensive coordinator at Austin Peay State, a Division I-AA program in the Ohio Valley Conference.
“Coach Kappas brings a wealth of football knowledge from the college level to our Louisville High School football program,” Louisville Athletic Director Terrie Horn said in a statement released by the district. “His depth of knowledge on both sides of the ball will enhance the level of play and continue the excitement of Louisville football that is so well known throughout Stark County.”
Kappas was named the American Football Coaches Association FCS Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022 for his work at Austin Peay. He also helped Austin Peay break its team GPA record for four straight semesters.
“Finding a candidate of Chris caliber is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Louisville," board member Rick Crislip said in a statement. Crislip is a former Louisville football coach.
Louisville has struggled competing as an independent since 2018 after the Northeastern Buckeye Conference disbanded because of the school's success and reformed without the Leopards as the Eastern Buckeye Conference. The Leopards last winning season was 6-4 in 2018. They went 7-22 the last three seasons, including 2-11 against Federal League teams.
Kappas is from Pittsburgh. He played football at North Hills High School before continuing his career at West Liberty and then Mount Union.
He broke into coaching by assisting with the defense as a graduate assistant at Bowling Green from 2011-12. He returned to Mount Union from 2013-20 at Mount Union, coaching in a variety of roles during that time on both sides of the ball and special teams.
“! will bring fun and make football enjoyable, while bringing a level of expectation and hard work," Kappas said in a statement. "I am demanding, but fair. I will put the best players on the field."
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Chris Kappas hired as Louisville High School football coach
