Colatruglio leaving Columbian, returning to Hopewell-Loudon

Brian Colatruglio could sense the narrative, so he tried to dispel it. The Columbian football coach told his players Tuesday that he is stepping down and returning to Hopewell-Loudon, the program he led for six seasons and guided to a pair of state championship games. Colatruglio isn’t just going back to Bascom to coach. He also will become dean of students and the athletic director, pending board approval. The coach said he knows how the shift will look to some outsiders. “It’s one of those things, it looks like somehow I shouldn’t have left [H-L in the first place],” Colatruglio said. “But that’s not even close.” In six seasons at Columbian, Colatruglio’s Tornadoes went 52-18. His teams made the postseason in his first four seasons. “Football wise, I’m 100 percent happy I had a chance to coach at Columbian,” he said. “As a coaching staff, we are 100 percent better. Nothing negative to say about my time at Columbian football, some great kids, some great players.” Columbian Athletic Director Derek Lewis said he’s disappointed Colatruglio is going, but he’s happy for the coach. “I don’t like the fact he’s leaving, good coaches are hard to replace, but I think we’ll find some good candidates [to potentially replace him],” Lewis said. “We wish him nothing but the best.” So why is Colatruglio returning to the Chieftains? He said there were a pair of factors. “No. 1, the administrative position, to be dean of students, AD and football coach, is a significant step for me,” he said. “I’m excited to move from the classroom into different role.” Colatruglio had been teaching social studies at TC. The other reason for the move had to do with his assistants. A number of coaches on his staff teach at Hopewell-Loudon and have children in the Hopewell-Loudon system. By moving back to H-L, Colatruglio can keep his staff intact. Hopewell-Loudon went 6-4 last season, and its coach, Jeremy Nutter, was not renewed after the season. Colatruglio understands there will be big expectations with his return, but he said there will need to be patience. That may be hard, coming back to a program where he was 72-9 and made the postseason in each of his six seasons. “Biggest thing, we’re gonna have to temper expectations a little bit,” he said. “People will be excited and remember things we did in the past, but this is totally different group of kids. I haven’t met any of them, haven’t any tape, I have no idea. “(The players) will have to buy in,” he said. “I know coach Nutter personally. He’s a great guy, a great coach. We have to come in, earn respect and get kids to follow us.” Still, Colatruglio said he’s looking forward to going back to a small school. “The first 14 years of my career were at a small school,” he said. “It’s something I miss, the tight knit community, the impact you can have on a small community is different. As for Columbian and its coaching search, Lewis said the position will be posted quickly. Columbian went 4-6 in Colatruglio’s final season “We have a lot to offer a coach,” Lewis said. “We want somebody who’s energetic, understands our tradition, take us from where we are and moves us forward.”