(Middlefield, OH) - After a disappointing 1-9 finish in their final season in the Chagrin Valley Conference - Valley Division, the Cardinal Huskies were in search of a new head coach for the third time in six years. Stepping into the new role will be Keith Fife who has served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the last two seasons.
The Huskies will have graduated 13 seniors this upcoming summer, including First-Team All-Conference Resse Soltis and Honorable-Mention All-Conference quarterback Cal Ciminello who each set a number of individual records in all receiving and passing yards, respectively. They also lose lineman Max Soltis who was sidelined this past fall with a knee injury.
Sophomore Dominic Harris spoke highly of his new head coach and what he means to the program.
“Coach Fife's hiring as head coach was the best decision Cardinal could have made regarding its football program. All the players know Coach Fife, and we all love him. He has been with us for a few years now, and we could not have asked for someone better to lead us in this upcoming season. Coach Fife is there for everything! Every practice and every game, he is always there to help each and every one of us. Coach Fife is truly the best head coach we could ask for,” said Harris.
His timing of being promoted to a head coach would come in due time. Fife began his football journey at a young age, first playing for the Ravenna Ravens. On offense, he played the role of running back and helped lead his team on defense as an outside linebacker.
Fife would eventually leave Ravenna, and transfer to Field High School, located in Portage County. There, he earned All-Conference honors in 1983 and 1984. There, he played running back, linebacker and defensive back for the Falcons. After graduation, Fife enlisted in the United State Navy where he served for 12 years. Shortly after he came back home, Fife began the search in returning to the football field.
“My favorite memory as a player would have to be my sophomore season at Ravenna. That team was magical, and that’s what made me love the game even more,” said Fife as he reflected on the start of his coaching career.
Without delay, Fife found himself in a full-circle moment. In 2001, Fife accepted the director’s position for Field’s youth programs. The program is open to all students 12 years and younger. He coached for the Falcons from 2001-2007 before serving as the director of youth football for Ravenna City Schools, until 2022. There, he also was introduced to the Middle School team where he became head coach for the Ravens. By his final season at Ravenna, Fife had worked his way up to the Varsity staff for Friday nights.
In 2021, the Ravens finished 7-4 overall 4-2 in the Metro, and then in 2022 they went 3-7 overall, while picking up one conference win over Springfield.
Fife would then begin his search for a new school. He came upon Cardinal High School during that time in January of 2023. Joining Chris Perrotti’s staff, first as a linebackers coach and then eventually was promoted to defensive coordinator this past season under Rich Turner. The Huskies finished 6-4 overall, before being eliminated in the Division VI state playoff game against Canton Central Catholic. They would finish 3-2 in the Chagrin Valley Conference, picking up wins against Crestwood, Grand Valley, and Painesville Harvey in 2023.
However, this past season, the Huskies struggled to stay healthy throughout the season, picking up just one win against Grand Valley in a back-and-forth contest, before pulling out the 36-33 win. After the head coaching position was up for grabs again, Fife would become even more tenacious in the application process. Then, on January 8, 2025 at the Board of Education meeting during the regular session, Fife was approved and appointed head coach for the Cardinal Huskies, becoming the 10th coach in history.
“Cardinal is a special place,” said Fife. “They treat you like family here. The community is all about their youth, and there’s no other place I would rather be.”
With the Huskies making a shift in the Chagrin Valley Conference to the Northeast Athletic Conference where Grand Valley made the switch a year ago, things should be much more competitive for the Huskies.
“Our goal this season is to put a more competitive team on the field. We want to build a mentality that we are a team that you will have to work hard to beat,” said Fife. “My goal for the program is very simple. I want to get numbers up, and want to build a playoff caliber program. Despite it taking a lot of work, it can be done.”
The Huskies’ goal of being more competitive should be realistic for Fife and company. They will join teams such as; Ashtabula St. John & Paul, Fairport, Grand Valley, Mathews, Pymatuning Valley, and Windham.
“Our long-term goal is to increase numbers from the youth program to high school level to eventually compete for league championships and get back to the playoffs,” said Fife. “I also intend to be involved with the school administration to ensure the athletes are doing well in school academically.”
Last season, the youth program was home to around 75 kids in grades Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
“Interacting with all of the youth at Cardinal is what I enjoy most about my job,” said Fife. “Getting to know them and letting them know I care about them and will help them in any way I can is my top priority. Also, teaching them different things, expanding their knowledge of football and the importance of teamwork and hard work,” said Fife.
Joining Coach Fife’s coaching staff will be offensive coordinator, Ryan Slone, while his son, Gage will also be on staff. As Fife reflected on what his favorite memory as a coach was, he couldn’t hold back the excitement of when he coached his two sons. Whom you may see an appearance or two on the sidelines this season.
Coach Fife also described what it feels like to build relationships with his athletes, another favorite thing of coaching.
“It’s not just the game itself, but the kids. Being there, and coaching the game of football to them is one thing, but letting them know that they are loved and that you care about them on and off the field. As a coach, you don’t always know their home life. Some players have it better than others. I have done some things that most coaches wouldn’t, and I will continue to do those things when I am done coaching,” said Fife.
“Cardinal football is excited to have Coach Fife at the helm,” said Athletic Director, Jimmy Soltis. “He and his staff bring an old school approach back to the Huskies’ sideline. Something our kids and parents are excited about! Coach Fife has been on our staff for the last two seasons and has proven to show great leadership qualities. Qualities that will allow our program to grow and be very successful. Despite the challenges and changes within the program, a new coaching staff AND a new conference, we couldn't be more excited about the upcoming season.”