KANSAS, Ohio — Ryan Lozier is the leader of the Lakota High School football team. He took over the program in February after working as the offensive coordinator for former head coach Mike Lento.
It wasn't shocking that an accomplished player like Lozier got the head job, but what impressed people was getting it when he was just 22 years old.
"It's surreal at times, but I think it's set in now that we got going and we're a couple weeks in," Lozier said. "It's been a lifelong dream to do this and to do it early on, I'm grateful for it and thankful to the people who have given me the opportunity."
Ryan comes from a great football background. He was the quarterback of the Clyde Fliers football team that won the state championship in 2019.
Ryan said at times, it can be overwhelming being a head coach but he has a great support system.
"Coach [Ryan] Carter from Clyde, he said to me, '90% of what you do has nothing to do with coaching football,' and he's right with that," Lozier said. "It's a lot at times, but you lean on people close to you and your staff and it's fun."
Players say it's no problem having a head coach just a few years older than them, as Lozier earned their respect as a leader early into his tenure.
"He can talk with us like we're players with him," senior Grant Bomer said. "He's still young so he's just coming out of his state championship years. He's just like a player to us."
The assistants hold a lot of respect for Lozier too, especially from his defensive coordinator, who also happens to be his dad.
"He's very respectful to the ideas that all the coaches give him and especially me. He and I can still talk about it when he gets home because he still lives with me," his dad, David Lozier, said with a chuckle.
Lozier is only two games into his head coaching career, opening the season with a 45-13 loss to Monroeville, but following that up the next week with a 35-0 shutout of Arcadia. The 23-year-old has a big vision for the Lakota football program.
"The only way is up. We've been to the playoffs the last few years, but we still haven't won a playoff game," Lozier said. "I hope to be in contention for league titles and winning playoff games. That's where I hope Lakota football is."
For their next contest, the Raiders host the Northwood Rangers.