Triv leaves a lasting impression in Mentor

By Mimi Vanderhaven

After coaching Mentor High School Football for the past 23 years, Coach Steve Trivisonno has put up some impressive numbers—a 209-70 record overall with 19 playoff appearances, five regional championships and five trips to the state finals. His last and near-perfect season came to an end in November, making it to the state semi-finals against Pickerington Central.

Coach Trivisonno reports that looking back on his career, he always sought to, “represent the school in a positive light and be that great role model for all the kids coming up.”

Some of his players have gone onto rising star status on a professional level (a certain Bears QB…) and others have stayed right here in the community. But they all have a willingness to give back in common. Last summer, Mitch Trubisky and many other past players volunteered at the same football camp they went through as kids.

Based on his track record of building excellence in character, on-field success, community involvement and commitment to the development of youth and high school football in the region, Coach Trivisonno was named by the Cleveland Browns as the 2019 Coach of the Year.

Even in light of all these accolades, he remains remarkably humble, saying he’s excited about the next chapter in his life, and has “enjoyed every second” of his chapter as head football coach.

“Aside from the head coach’s role, Steve has also been a proud graduate, teacher and a parent in Mentor,” says Mentor Schools Superintendent William Porter. “Needless to say, he knows Mentor very well through those many lenses. And while many outside our community will remember the big games, the memorable victories and the legendary athletes he coached whose names continue to make us proud, those of us on the inside have come to know Triv as much more than the guy who engineered the football success.”

With the thousands of players who Coach Trivisonno has taught to be better players and better people‑—who know what it means to give back to the community—his legacy will live on long after his retirement.

The Mentor School system educates 7,660 students from pre-K to 12th grade in eight elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school and one school for students with autism. For updates, visit MentorSchools.net.