BY KASON KOPKAS ’29
A new year means a new look on the Wildcat sidelines.
With the announcement of new head football coach Tom Kaufman, there were bound to be changes to the existing coaching lineup. The Eye is here to report on these changes and provide some background on the new coaching staff.
Rick Lytle, Offensive Coordinator and Runningbacks Coach, is a 34-year coaching veteran. He had led multiple programs to state championships, including Lake Catholic in 1992 and “that school in Lakewood” in 2018. He and Kaufman worked alongside each other at Gilmour in 2023 and 2024, leading them to a Regional Finals appearance.
Matt Minnillo, Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach, is also a tenured coach, being a 27-year veteran at both the collegiate and high school level. Similarly to Lytle, Minnillo was part of those 2023 and 2024 Gilmour staffs, where his defense had three shutouts. Minnillo is “intense, but players love him,” says Kaufman.
Pat McQuaide, Quarterbacks Coach, was a three-year, D1 starting Quarterback for Nicholls State and Villanova respectively. He led the Wildcats to a FCS Semifinal appearance last season. This will be McQuaide’s first year coaching.
Bryce Agnew, Wide Receivers Coach, was a player turned coach at Marietta College from 2021 until 2025, when he made the jump, along with Kaufman, to come to Ignatius. This is Agnew’s third year coaching Wide Receivers.
Greg Nackley, Tight Ends Coach, is a member of the Baldwin Wallace Athletic Hall of Fame, getting inducted just last year. Beginning in 1989, he adds even more experience to the coaching staff.
Alex Nicholson, Offensive Line Coach, was the Shaker Heights head coach from 2019, winning Northeast Lakes District Coach of the Year in 2023 before making the jump to Ignatius.
Tom ‘UT’ Neibecker, Defensive LineEnds Coach, was again on the 2023 and 2024 Gilmour coaching staffs under Kaufman, noted as “intense, loves the physical part of the game, loves his players more.”
Warren Saba, Cornerbacks Coach, was a former D1 Safety for the East Carolina Pirates from 2018 until 2021, moving to the UFL as a member of the Michigan Panthers before coming to coach at D2 Lake Erie College in 2024.
Brian Wisniewski, Safeties Coach, was the Solon Head Coach from 2021 until last season before coming to Ignatius. He is a seven-year coaching veteran, having been the Solon defensive coordinator from 2019 until his promotion.
A new chapter in Saint Ignatius Football history kicks off Friday, August 21st against the Division II State Champion Avon Eagles.
