Sean Guerriero is retiring as Springfield’s head football coach after 18 seasons leading the Tigers. Guerriero, who became the Springfield Local School District’s athletic director over the summer, met with the football team Tuesday to announce the news.

“I just think, for me, it was time,” Guerriero said.

Guerriero has been the head coach of the Springfield football program since 2007. In his 18 seasons as coach, the Tigers went 133-70, reached the playoffs nine times and made it to the Division VI state championship game twice.

Guerriero said he did not have a plan for how or when he would stop coaching, but once he became the Springfield athletic director in June, succeeding Bob Beam, who left to become Canfield’s AD, he thought it might be time to focus completely on his new job.

“I can hopefully help a lot more of the kids in Springfield and things that we end up doing with athletics, whether that’s with football, basketball, track or anything,” Guerriero said. “I was kind of involved in everything with that. So I just feel like maybe I’ll be able to reach out and help more kids in all sports.”

In his final season as the Tigers’ head football coach, Guerriero led Springfield to a 10-3 record. Springfield’s season ended with a 25-0 loss to Dalton in the regional semifinals Nov. 15.

A Struthers native, Guerriero graduated from Poland before attending and playing football at Youngstown State.

After college, Guerriero spent a year in Gates Mills as the strength and conditioning coach at Gilmour Academy. He then returned to the area to serve as an assistant football coach at Girard, where he remained until being hired by Springfield in 2007 at the age of 27.

During the second half of Guerriero’s 18-season stint, the Tigers did not post a losing season, made seven playoff appearances and reached at least the state semifinals three straight years from 2019 to 2021.

In 2019, Springfield advanced to the Division VI state title game, where Anna emerged the decisive victor. The following season, though, the Tigers returned to the state final and were tied with Coldwater 35-35 in the final minute of regulation when Springfield surrendered a 65-yard punt return, which set up a game-winning 25-yard field goal for Coldwater.

Upon retirement, that result four years ago is the closest thing to a regret Guerriero has.

“We could talk about a lot of things that went on in that game, but I’m really happy with everything and where I’m at right now. I know everybody else would say is, ‘Why’d I punt the ball?'” Guerriero said with a laugh. “But I’m in a good spot right now and I’m happy where I’m at.

“I really don’t have any regrets, but I would have liked to finish with a state championship.”

Although Guerriero was one of the longest-tenured coaches in the area, he praised longtime area football coaches Mike Pavlansky of Canfield and Dan Yeagley of South Range, both of whom retired within the last two years, as well as Columbiana head coach Bob Spaite, for their more than 20-year commitments.

“Those guys have done it forever,” Guerriero said. “I give them a lot of credit because it’s a lot of time … It takes a different type of person to be able to do this for a long period of time.”

In his 18 years as the Tigers’ head coach, Guerriero said he was “blessed” with the coaches and players who helped the program achieve success.

“You’re so close with the kids, you spend so much time with them, I feel like a lot of them are my kids. You end up spending time and having fun with them,” Guerriero said.

Despite the strong connection he has built with players throughout the years, Guerriero, who also served as the Springfield boys track and field coach, said he does not expect to make a comeback.

“[Coaching again] is definitely not any part of my thought process,” Guerriero said.