Avon Lake boys track coach Keith Kauffman has resigned his position after 12 years.
Kauffman led the Shoremen to a pair of Southwestern Conference titles in 2000 and ’04. The win in 2000 was the program’s first conference title in boys track since winning the Lakeland Conference in 1962, ending 38 years of futility.
After becoming head coach in 1997, Kauffman’s teams finished in the top three of the SWC seven times. The Shoremen were second in 2001 and ’06 and third in 1997, 2003 and ’05. Avon Lake finished only as high as third place once since joining the SWC between 1965-96, a span of 32 years.
“The last few years were a difficult balancing act for me with work and coaching,” said the 55-year-old Kauffman, a 1973 Avon Lake High graduate. “I really didn’t want to end after last season because I thought that we were a better team than we had finished. I (also) didn’t want to leave the program in a position where the tank was completely empty.
“(Athletic director) Tom (Barone) and I talked about it throughout the season. There’s never such a thing as a good time to go, but I wanted to go on my terms. I really felt that now was a good opportunity to let someone else come in and have a good base to start from. The performances we had from the underclassmen indicate that things should be up for several years.”
The past 26 years, Kauffman has been a technical manager for North Coast Instruments, which is based in Greater Cleveland and services a four-state area. He first joined the Avon Lake coaching staff in 1996 as a volunteer assistant under former head coach Jim Saul. Kauffman became head coach the next year following Saul’s retirement.
Avon Lake had its largest turnout (80) this year in Kauffman’s tenure for the second straight year. Last year’s team numbered 77.
Kauffman had a pair of state champions, the first two in the program’s history. Mike D’Andrea won Division I state shot put titles in 2001 and ’02. He also won the 2002 state discus title. Trey Stross captured the 2005 Division I state high jump crown.
“I believe that timing is everything,” Kauffman said. “I was fortunate to come along at a time where a lot of very good athletes came through the school. It’s being at the right place at the right time. A lot of those kids are once-in-a-lifetime athletes. I’d been happy to coach any single one of them as opposed to having all of them come through here.”
D’Andrea set county records in shot put (67-6½) and discus (190-5). The Shoremen’s 1,600-meter relay of Chris Heslep, Tim Guenther, Ben Behm and Brian Anderson had the second-fastest time in county history (3:17.0) and was second at the 1999 Division I state meet. Stross and Jon Schroeder (class of ’04) each won five SWC tittles in their careers. D’Andrea, Heslep and Anderson won four each.
“The goal was a process,” Kauffman said. “Your process stays the same, you just plug different personnel in there every few years. I’ve never been one big on winning and losing. I always told the kids, nobody cares what your won-lost record is in track and field. You’re just measured on how you perform at your conference meet and anything you get thereafter.”
Avon Lake also enjoyed postseason success during Kauffman’s tenure. The Shoremen finished in the top five at districts six times. Avon Lake finished eighth at the 2001 and ’02 Division I state meets.
“It’s hard to step away from, but track is something I’ve always been very passionate about,” Kauffman said. “It’s probably everybody’s dream to have an opportunity to come back to their alma mater and coach.”
Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. 

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