GEAUGA COUNTY, Ohio — Lou Cirino, a former head football coach at both West Geauga and Strongsville High School, was arrested by Geauga County Sheriff's deputies on Friday morning for sexual misconduct charges.
An arrest warrant was issued on March 28 for Cirino, who currently lives in Columbia Station.
According to court documents obtained by 3News, a grand jury indicted Cirino for sexual battery that allegedly occurred between Dec. 21, 2009, and Dec. 20, 2010. The incidents occurred in Geauga County while he was employed at West Geauga High School, including during the 2010 season as head coach of the Wolverines.
Additionally, the 40-year-old is accused of gross sexual imposition between Dec. 21, 2004, and Dec. 20, 2005. The indictment states that the victim was under the age of 13 at the time of the offense.
The grand jury specified Cirino as a "sexually violent predator" in each of the charges.
Chester Township police told 3News that they received the allegations involving Cirino in December 2023. On Dec. 4, Strongsville City Schools announced that Cirino would not be returning as the high school's head coach for the 2024 season, as the school was "going in a different direction with the SHS football program."
Cirino led West Geauga to a 47-27 record from 2010-16, but was let go by Strongsville following a lackluster 31-38 mark across seven seasons, including back-to-back 3-8 campaigns in his final two years. Four days after his firing as coach, the school announced it had placed a staff member on leave "as a result of allegations of an inappropriate relationship involving a student when the individual was employed by another school district."
Though he is no longer head coach, Cirino is still technically employed by Strongsville City Schools. Superintendent Cameron M. Ryba addressed Cirino's arrest Friday afternoon in a message to district families:
"Due to this arrest, Mr. Cirino has been placed on unpaid administrative leave. Since December and moving forward, Mr. Cirino has not and will not be permitted to be on any school grounds or have contact with any Strongsville students.
"We approach every claim of misconduct with utmost seriousness and conduct comprehensive investigations into each matter. Although the allegations of Mr. Cirino’s involvement in an inappropriate relationship pertained only to a former student at his former district of employment, in accordance with board policy, the Strongsville City School District initiated an internal investigation. The internal investigation did not produce any evidence that Mr. Cirino engaged in inappropriate conduct with any Strongsville student. Our District will continue to cooperate with local and county law enforcement agencies as this matter progresses."
West Geauga Superintendent Dr. Richard A. Markwardt also released the following statement to 3News:
"Mr. Cirino was employed by the West Geauga Local School District from 2006 until 2017 when he resigned to accept a position in another school district. During his time at West Geauga, he served as a high school teacher and coach for high school football and middle school track. Although the school district cooperated with law enforcement during its investigation, the district has very little information related to the charges from 2009-2010 or to the discoveries that led to Mr. Cirino's indictment. Mr. Cirino was not employed by the school district in 2004-2005."
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