High school soccer: Brad Wojnarowsky steps away as Medina girls coach

Brad Wojnarowsky had bled green and white for so many years that it impacted him on and off the field. That was one of the determining factors as to why the 47-year-old stepped down Thursday as Medina girls soccer coach. As part of the printing division at RR Donnelley, Wojnarowsky worked third shift. That made finding personal time difficult, let alone coaching one of the best programs in Ohio. "It was definitely difficult, but there comes that time," Wojnarowsky said. "It's what I feel is the right time to walk away. Honestly, it definitely has to do with being worn down. I want to get to know my kids again. "I really haven't been feeling well since December, and I think a lot of it has to do with the stress of this job. It's time to walk away and take care of myself and my kids." Wojnarowsky has been an integral part of the Bees remaining a national power for the last 13 seasons. In 11 years as an assistant to Doug Coreno, he helped guide the Bees to the Division I state championship in 2009, a state semifinal in 2015 and three other district titles. When Wojarowsky took over as the head man in 2019, Medina went 17-3-2 and reached the state semifinals. Last season, the Bees went 14-3-2 and reached the district finals. "Medina High School and our athletic department is bigger than one person," Medina athletic director Todd Hodkey said. "We will preserve and move forward to find the next person to lead our girls soccer program and give our community, school and program what they deserve." As an assistant coach, Wojnarowsky helped the Bees to a 165-25-30 mark. With his two seasons as the lead man included, Medina went 196-31-34. Wojnarowsky mentioned his health in his resignation letter, and Medina accepted. "That program, the culture was set in place by Jill (Santee) way back when," Wojnarowsky said. "It's about players. No matter who comes into that program, they're going to be successful. It has nothing to do with the coaches. The program is going to be fine. "It stinks leaving the kids behind. I'll be honest, this is something that has been on my mind probably going back a good seven or eight years. I could never do it. I always felt like I was turning my back on some kids. I was always putting my kids before myself, my health and my family. The time has come where I just can't do it anymore." Whoever is awarded the job will step into a well-oiled machine. All-Gazette midfielders Olivia Sipsock and Rachel Smith will join honorable mention selection Kayla Perfect to shore up the middle, with honorable mention defender Meghan Heath a big part of the mix. The players have been together the last two seasons at the high school level and for years at the club level. "We are a nationally renowned, a state renowned, a Northeast Ohio renowned, two-tier program here," Hodkey said. "Our program is year in and year out one of the tops in the state and nation. "With the girls coming back and the ones coming into the program, it will be in a good place. It's going to be our responsibility to keep it that way. It's going to be a job that should be pretty well sought after." The next step is to open the job internally for five days before opening it externally. Hodkey indicated the school plans to do both. Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com.