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Lebanon was a combined 76-55 with Lamb as head coach and won Greater Western Ohio Conference divisional titles in 2006, ’09 and ’11. But the Warriors closed this season with one win in their last seven games. Lebanon was 3-7 overall and 0-3 in the GWOC National West. Springboro defeated Lebanon 38-7 in the regular-season finale.
Lamb said he had decided with his family prior to the season this would be his last.
“(That) definitely is not the way I wanted things to end,” Lamb said. “I choose to reflect upon the 13 seasons and all the young men I was fortunate enough to coach and all the great people I was able to coach with.”
With record-setting quarterback Dakota Allen, Lebanon went 7-4 in 2016, losing a playoff opener to Sycamore. That was Lebanon’s first postseason appearance in 13 years. Allen is a freshman at Eastern Kentucky University this season.
Lebanon is the first GWOC program to need a head coach for next season. Xenia (Trace Smitherman), Stebbins (Greg Bonifay), Centerville (Brent Ullery) and West Carrollton (Derek Hauk) all had new coaches this season. Bill Nees of Piqua is the dean of GWOC coaches with 26 seasons.
Lebanon is lumped with Springboro, Northmont and Miamisburg in the GWOC National West. Lamb was a standout quarterback at Franklin from 1988-90, playing for current Fenwick coach John Aregood.
“Lebanon is a special place,” Lamb said. “It’s a Division I program but you still get the aspects of a small town and being a one-team town. Our youth and junior high program is excellent. Whoever takes this position over is going to be a lucky person and I’m sure they would be successful in the future.”
Previously this week Lance Engleka resigned at Middletown, citing death threats among other issues. The Middies won one game in his two seasons as head coach. Also, Jim Place resigned after three seasons as the Ponitz head coach.
»FACEBOOK: For more high school sports you should like Marc Pendleton
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