Full disclosure!

This was intended to be a feature, a story on the life of a high school football coach who, for the first time in 47 years, is spending his Friday nights in the fall away from the sidelines.

Intrigued at how Jeff Bayuk was adapting to his role as a high school football fan, I reached out to the Hall of Fame coach earlier this week to get some insights.

Did he miss coaching? Does absence indeed make the heart grow fonder, or is there great relief in watching the game from afar?

Bayuk talked about attending the season-opener between Campbell and Liberty. Dom Prologo, a longtime assistant under Bayuk, was making his coaching debut with the Leopards. The following night, Bayuk and another longtime assistant (Dom Greenamyer) took in another area game.

So, how would Bayuk describe the transition from coach to fan?

Then came the words I was selfishly eager to hear.

“It was strange, it was very strange,” Bayuk said. “Honestly, that weekend I came home and told my wife that I was going to apply for the first coaching job that opened up next year. I was thinking, ‘I can’t do this, I have to quit going to games or I’ll go crazy.'”

In a season which has seen more than its share of off-the-field drama and negative headlines, high school football desperately needs more Jeff Bayuks.

Bayuk talked about how he would spend his ensuing Friday nights away from the Friday night lights, whether it was a weekend trip out of town or a night at the lake. Still, he found himself logging onto the internet, streaming games, catching up on the scores from throughout the Mahoning Valley.

Bayuk admitted there are aspects of coaching he doesn’t miss. The blazing summer heat. The evolution of social media, and how it has “turned everyone into a football expert, even though most of those experts have no clue what’s going on in the locker room, or at practice.”

The game itself has greatly changed since Bayuk began his career in 1978 as a freshman coach at Sharon Kennedy Christian. He noted that the spread offense “has made fans impatient, wanting to constantly see the ball in the air,” while pointing out that historically teams that win state titles are run-heavy on offense.

Bayuk is a Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer. He belongs to several other area Halls of Fame. As a head coach he turned programs around at Canfield, Hubbard and Campbell. He achieved the ultimate coaching reward in 2016 when he led Warren John F. Kennedy to a state championship.

Yet when asked to reflect on his past achievements, Bayuk never once mentioned the state title. He never talked about 121 wins at Hubbard, which included six league titles and six playoff appearances. (Bayuk coached at Hubbard for 16 years, taking over a program which was 8-51 in the six years prior to his arrival.) Bayuk never mentioned his Hall of Fame status.

Instead, Bayuk immediately talked about the joy he receives when he opens up an email or a text from a former player, who is simply reaching out to say hello. He proudly talked about what those players achieved once their football days came to an end. He talked about the great camaraderie which exists among area coaches, noting that, “We’re all rivals on Friday night, but the rest of the time there’s a great bond, we all share the same goals.”

Bayuk acknowledges that being away from the gridiron this fall did have its perks. More time with the grandchildren. Less time spent dealing with the administrative part of the game.

He has enjoyed watching the resurgence at Canfield. He’s impressed with the explosiveness of a young Girard team. Poland “looks fantastic, but it’s no surprise considering who is coaching that team.”

Bayuk has backed away from totally committing to a return in 2026. He remains on the OHSFCA board of directors, and vows to “somehow stay involved in the greatest game on earth.” Regardless of his role, Bayuk said his goal is to make the sport more enjoyable for its participants. And above all, he wants to see the student-athletes achieve positive results beyond the scoreboard.

Jeff Bayuk paid his dues. From a football standpoint, he has achieved the ultimate success. As a mentor and a teacher, he has garnered the highest respect from all who have played for him. He has earned the right to call his own shots.

The 2025 season has presented many great storylines. Unfortunately, it has also shined a glaring light on the ugly side of sports, even at the high school level. The off-the-field headlines have at times overshadowed the game itself.

Selfishly, it’s safe to suggest that high school football fans throughout the Mahoning Valley are hoping that future headlines include the phrase, “Jeff Bayuk returns to the sidelines.”

Now more than ever, high school football needs more Jeff Bayuks.

Steve Ruman is a correspondent for The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle.