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MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Senior Tygers have their guy.
On Tuesday, the Mansfield City Schools School Board voted to approve Antonio Fletcher as the new leader of the Tyger football program.
"Antonio Fletcher has been a consistent and positive presence on the sidelines for over a decade," Mansfield Senior Superintendent Stan Jefferson said. "He has earned the respect of our student-athletes, families and coaching staff. His leadership style reflects the core values of our district and we are excited to see him step into his new role.
Fletcher, a 1993 Mansfield Senior grad, was a long-time assistant coach for the Tygers at various positions over the last 15 seasons. He started as a freshman football coach in 2009 and worked his way up to a varsity assistant position most recently as the defensive line coach. Fletcher is also active in student security roles at Mansfield Senior and has spent his career mentoring at-risk youth in the community.
CHIOKE BRADLEY: Chioke Bradley steps down as all-time winningest coach for Mansfield Senior football
"I just wanted to be around the game and the program as much as I could," Fletcher said. "I grew a lot in those early years and learned so much that I got more comfortable with working with the varsity guys. I just wanted to be there to help no matter if it was freshman, JV or varsity."
During his playing days with the Tygers, Fletcher played side-by-side with Chioke Bradley, the all-time winningest coach in program history. In the 1993 season, the Tygers went 9-2 and made the first playoff appearance in program history.
Fletcher joined the Tyger coaching staff the same year Bradley took over the program in 2010 and was one of Bradley's first calls when he assembled his coaching staff.
Since then, the Tygers went 103-62 record with five Ohio Cardinal Conference championships and nine playoff appearances. In 2013, the Tygers posted the first undefeated record in more than seven decades and in 2019, they finished as the Division III state runners-up after an overtime loss to Trotwood-Madison.
Since Fletcher has been on staff, the Tygers won OCC titles in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2023. They made the playoffs in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Tygers won 10 or more games in 2013, 2019, 2022 and 2023, including a program record 13 in 2019.
Fletcher was there for every second of a wild 15-year ride, and he is looking forward to adding to a storied history as head coach.
"I am ready for this," Fletcher said. "I am a TY-Tyger through and through. All I know is TY Tyger football. I was in the first class after they combined Mansfield and Malabar, so I bleed orange, brown and white."
Since Bradley stepped down and the search for a new coach began on Dec. 9, Fletcher has been running the weight room and all offseason activities in order to make sure the program stays on the right track. While waiting for his chance to run his own program, Fletcher got first-hand experience in what it takes to be a head football coach in the offseason.
"I kept the weight room open and was reaching out to our guys to make sure they knew they could come down and get better," Fletcher said. "I wanted to take on that role. I feel good about where we are. We had a rough season last year, but people didn't realize that we had a lot of guys with very little varsity experience. They didn't know how to play at that level nor understand it. They got a taste of it, and they believe in us coaches so I think we will be alright."
Last season, Mansfield Senior went 1-9 for its worst record since going 2-8 in 2008 and 1-9 in 2004.
Now, it is time for Fletcher to put to use everything he learned as the longest-tenured assistant coach on staff as he starts his first day as the leader of the program he grew up in.
"I soaked up everything I could," Fletcher said. "Watching Chioke do what he did was amazing. We have been friends for so long on and off the field and seeing how he got the kids exposure and how he built trust with them is something I want to continue to do. We will keep doing things in an orderly fashion. The last 15 years taught me how things need to be done and what needs to take place in order for us to be successful."
The Tygers open the 2025 season on Aug. 22 at home against Hillard Davidson.
[email protected]
740-244-9934
X: @JakeFurr11
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield Senior hires Antonio Fletcher as next football coach
Continue reading...
On Tuesday, the Mansfield City Schools School Board voted to approve Antonio Fletcher as the new leader of the Tyger football program.
"Antonio Fletcher has been a consistent and positive presence on the sidelines for over a decade," Mansfield Senior Superintendent Stan Jefferson said. "He has earned the respect of our student-athletes, families and coaching staff. His leadership style reflects the core values of our district and we are excited to see him step into his new role.
Fletcher, a 1993 Mansfield Senior grad, was a long-time assistant coach for the Tygers at various positions over the last 15 seasons. He started as a freshman football coach in 2009 and worked his way up to a varsity assistant position most recently as the defensive line coach. Fletcher is also active in student security roles at Mansfield Senior and has spent his career mentoring at-risk youth in the community.
CHIOKE BRADLEY: Chioke Bradley steps down as all-time winningest coach for Mansfield Senior football
"I just wanted to be around the game and the program as much as I could," Fletcher said. "I grew a lot in those early years and learned so much that I got more comfortable with working with the varsity guys. I just wanted to be there to help no matter if it was freshman, JV or varsity."
During his playing days with the Tygers, Fletcher played side-by-side with Chioke Bradley, the all-time winningest coach in program history. In the 1993 season, the Tygers went 9-2 and made the first playoff appearance in program history.
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Fletcher joined the Tyger coaching staff the same year Bradley took over the program in 2010 and was one of Bradley's first calls when he assembled his coaching staff.
Since then, the Tygers went 103-62 record with five Ohio Cardinal Conference championships and nine playoff appearances. In 2013, the Tygers posted the first undefeated record in more than seven decades and in 2019, they finished as the Division III state runners-up after an overtime loss to Trotwood-Madison.
Since Fletcher has been on staff, the Tygers won OCC titles in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2023. They made the playoffs in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Tygers won 10 or more games in 2013, 2019, 2022 and 2023, including a program record 13 in 2019.
Fletcher was there for every second of a wild 15-year ride, and he is looking forward to adding to a storied history as head coach.
"I am ready for this," Fletcher said. "I am a TY-Tyger through and through. All I know is TY Tyger football. I was in the first class after they combined Mansfield and Malabar, so I bleed orange, brown and white."
Since Bradley stepped down and the search for a new coach began on Dec. 9, Fletcher has been running the weight room and all offseason activities in order to make sure the program stays on the right track. While waiting for his chance to run his own program, Fletcher got first-hand experience in what it takes to be a head football coach in the offseason.
You must be registered for see images
"I kept the weight room open and was reaching out to our guys to make sure they knew they could come down and get better," Fletcher said. "I wanted to take on that role. I feel good about where we are. We had a rough season last year, but people didn't realize that we had a lot of guys with very little varsity experience. They didn't know how to play at that level nor understand it. They got a taste of it, and they believe in us coaches so I think we will be alright."
Last season, Mansfield Senior went 1-9 for its worst record since going 2-8 in 2008 and 1-9 in 2004.
Now, it is time for Fletcher to put to use everything he learned as the longest-tenured assistant coach on staff as he starts his first day as the leader of the program he grew up in.
"I soaked up everything I could," Fletcher said. "Watching Chioke do what he did was amazing. We have been friends for so long on and off the field and seeing how he got the kids exposure and how he built trust with them is something I want to continue to do. We will keep doing things in an orderly fashion. The last 15 years taught me how things need to be done and what needs to take place in order for us to be successful."
The Tygers open the 2025 season on Aug. 22 at home against Hillard Davidson.
[email protected]
740-244-9934
X: @JakeFurr11
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield Senior hires Antonio Fletcher as next football coach
Continue reading...
