Hoban president: 'Holy War' stoppage stems from STVM accusing a coach of improper language

Archbishop Hoban president Chris DiMauro explained St. Vincent-St. Mary's decision to not play the traditional regular-season football game between the rival high schools in 2023 stems from STVM accusing “a member of the Hoban coaching staff” of directing improper language toward the Irish.

The fallout of STVM's decision has left Hoban's leadership to contemplate whether the Knights will continue to compete against the Irish in other sports beginning with next school year, DiMauro said.

In a phone interview Monday afternoon, DiMauro declined to identify which Hoban coaching staff member STVM has accused but said it isn't Knights football head coach Tim Tyrrell.

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DiMauro said STVM alleged the incident occurred during pregame in the buildup to the Catholic schools squaring off in the 2021 regular season. DiMauro said Hoban's brass could not substantiate STVM's accusation after talking to game officials who were on the field during pregame and reviewing game film as well as media footage and coverage.

“We couldn't substantiate but still understood that what they were saying needed ownership, and we took ownership,” DiMauro said.

It came in the form of Tyrrell making “apologies” during a meeting with STVM's leadership after the 2021 season, DiMauro said.

“Despite us not being able to substantiate, we took the high road and apologized,” DiMauro said.

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STVM president Leo Hyland did not immediately return a voicemail from the Beacon Journal seeking comment Monday.

Hoban and STVM played twice in 2022, with the Knights extending their winning streak in the series otherwise known as “the Akron Holy War” to 11 games. Hoban defeated STVM 28-14 on Oct. 7 at Green Street Stadium's John Cistone Field and 47-7 in a Division II regional semifinal playoff game Nov. 11 at the University of Akron.

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DiMauro was asked what role, if any, he believes the recent lopsided nature of the series played in STVM's decision. The Irish went 8-4 last season. A perennial championship contender under Tyrrell, Hoban finished 14-2 and lost in the Division II state final.

“I think competitiveness plays a role in the decision,” DiMauro said. “I'm smart enough to know it's not the only portion of the decision, but I also think that to say competitiveness is not a portion of this is probably a half-truth.”

Although the regular-season series has been shut down for 2023, if not longer, there is still a chance Hoban and STVM could meet again in the Ohio High School Athletic Association postseason as early as next fall.

In a letter emailed to St. Vincent-Mary alumni Sunday and obtained by the Beacon Journal, Hyland wrote the Irish “hope to see Hoban again in the 2023 playoffs. However, due to our disappointment in resolving serious concerns raised with their administration in our conversations over the past 14 months, the Hoban football program has lost its privilege to play STVM in the 2023 regular season.”

Hyland added STVM leadership finds “this situation to be unacceptable and will not subject our students and coaches to any unsportsmanlike behavior.” The email addressed to STVM alumni did not provide a specific example of the alleged “unsportsmanlike behavior.”

Hoban leadership responded Monday afternoon by emailing a letter of its own to its community. The letter obtained by the Beacon Journal and signed by DiMauro and principal T.K. Griffith states Hoban's administration met twice with its STVM counterparts in an attempt “to resolve conflict” and preserve the regular-season rivalry game.

“We listened and discussed issues related to the use of improper language during the pregame of the 2021 contest,” the letter reads.

In the end, STVM was not satisfied.

Asked if STVM explicitly asked Hoban to discipline or fire the coaching staff member it accused, DiMauro said, “No, not that I remember.” DiMauro said he could not comment on whether the coach had been disciplined.

DiMauro said Hyland notified him of STVM's decision in a letter Friday and provided reasoning.

“Their decision not to renew was rooted in their categorization of inappropriate treatment of the St. Vincent-St. Mary community,” DiMauro said.

DiMauro said Hyland's letter to him doesn't mention a specific incident, “but my assumption is that that was [supposed to be] understood on my part based on prior conversations.”

A 1999 Hoban graduate, DiMauro said last season's football games between his alma mater and STVM went well from his perspective, giving him hope the series would continue.

“The Akron Holy War” has gone dormant before, a period spanning 1978-95. DiMauro was a sophomore football player at Hoban when the series returned in 1996. He emphasized rivalries are never without incident.

“I'm supremely confident that every single year since 1996, both Hoban and St. Vincent-St. Mary can point to a myriad of things that have gone wrong,” DiMauro said. “I'm positive of this. Whether it's vandalism or messages or guys in the parking lot there, there's always something. There's always going to be something.

“But it is our hope that the leaders of both institutions can look at each other and know that, despite those issues, that's not the way that they're trying to do things at their organization for their school. And that, to me, is the pathway forward. The rivalry for the kids needs to be larger than the incidents.”

Hoban has two openings on its 2023 football schedule — Weeks 3 and 6. STVM also had a vacancy in Week 3 until it scheduled Huber Heights Wayne instead of Hoban.

“We left that open in good faith that we would be able to collaborate and find some sense of compromise with St. Vincent-St. Mary,” DiMauro said, “and now that that has not happened, we'll move forward to try to fill a Week 3 game for our team.”

As for whether Hoban will continue to play STVM in other sports next school year, DiMauro said a decision hasn't been made and he doesn't know the timeline for when it will be reached because “this is all too new.” However, he said those discussions will take place between Hoban's leadership team and its board of directors.

“I think I can speak on behalf of all of the Hoban community when I say that the desire to play St. Vincent-St. Mary in football is very strong,” DiMauro said. “But I also have to say in the same breath that we are now forced to sit as a leadership team with our board to talk about what has been announced and to determine the future and what it will hold.”

The following is the text of the letter sent Monday to Hoban alumni:

Dear Hoban Family–alumni, students, families, Holy Cross educators and friends:

Following this weekend’s media reports, you may be aware that St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (STVM) has publicly announced an ending to the annual rivalry football game versus Hoban. Undoubtedly, this has left many saddened, frustrated and confused.

First, despite this news, Hoban is focused on delivering the best educational, faith-forming and cocurricular experience possible for students. No challenge will distract our focus from the mission at hand — educating the hearts and minds of young people.

While we were hoping for a different outcome, STVM’s announcement was not unexpected. The vagueness of the announcement undoubtedly leads to imaginative storytelling. In an effort to dispel rumors, we are eager to be transparent about the events leading to this point.

As far back as 2019, Hoban administrators met with the previous STVM administration to address rumors that STVM desired to end the schools’ football rivalry for reasons of competitiveness. Fortunately, the meeting resulted in both schools’ assurance that the tradition would continue.

More recently, Hoban’s administration has met twice with STVM’s current administration to discuss and ultimately handle concerns. Our goal was to resolve conflict so that our students could continue to enjoy the rivalry for years to come. We listened and discussed issues related to the use of improper language during the pregame of the 2021 contest. A review with the game officials, available media footage and game film uncovered no evidence of this claim. Despite this, Hoban President Chris DiMauro, Principal T.K. Griffith and Football Head Coach Tim Tyrrell apologized for the alleged incident and acted swiftly to ensure that nothing of the sort would happen again. Eventually, STVM agreed to play Hoban during the 2022 season. This, however, did not occur until the late spring.

During this year’s regular season game, Hoban’s administrative team rode the fan bus with our students to the STVM stadium, monitored our students and enjoyed a great football game. We considered the game a success and were proud of the respectful behavior of our students and the efforts of our student-athletes. Over the course of 50 years, administrators from both schools have dealt with a number of scenarios ranging from vandalism of school property to student behavior at games to inappropriate messages. In each of these scenarios, school leadership has always been able to use these as teachable moments and placed the tradition above any individual grievance.

We could go on and on about the back-and-forth narratives that occur before and during rivalries. It’s safe to say that there is always a need for ownership and accountability on both sides. Our communities pour their hearts into cheering and emotions run high — from football games to mock trial competitions. But, when the contest is over, Hoban and STVM move forward with class, form lifelong friendships and demonstrate mutual respect for each other. Together, Hoban and STVM alumni represent some of the best in the greater Akron area.

As Catholic, Holy Cross educators, we do our absolute best to personally uphold and model our Holy Cross core values. We teach and ask every Hoban student to practice these core values, including integrity, excellence and discipline. The Brothers of Holy Cross set a very high bar for us all and we do all we can to maintain those standards.

Our current administrative team has over 100 years of Hoban legacy in our blood and understands the sacred nature of tradition. We know this decision impacts our current and future students and for that, we are saddened. We pray for and continue to work towards a better solution that allows students to compete and enjoy this timeless tradition. We appreciate your continued support of our Hoban community.

True to You,

President Chris DiMauro ’99

Principal T.K. Griffith ’89

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hoban president says STVM accused coach of improper language