Just how important is high school football in the Mahoning Valley??

In a special board of education meeting, on a Saturday, on the 50 yard line at Spartan Stadium, with a temperature of 17 degrees in January,  D.J. Dota was named the head football coach of the Spartans.

The seven and a half minute, which had about one hundred people in attendance, including players and parents, included all the necessities of a board meeting, including roll call, pledge of allegiance and approving the agenda.

Dota was hired by a 5-0 vote and will also teach in the district.

"The school is in my backyard and  that's make it special.  I'll be at the all events and am excited to get started," said the new coach.

Athletic DIrector Marco Marinucci was congratulated for a job well done and going through a thorough process in getting the new coach by Superintendent Tim Saxon.

Dota was the  head coach at West Branch for eight years and Warren Harding four years.

He was an assistant at Girard in 2021.