OATCCC Hall Of Fame
Lou Slapnik

Before coming to Collinwood High School, Lou spent nine years as the coach at Patrick Henry Middle School where his teams won eight consecutive MS Cleveland City Championships. Named head coach at Collinwood in 1994, Lou created a dynasty leading the Lady Railroaders into the limelight and drawing national attention to his athletes. Collinwood won the Jesse Owens Cleveland City Championships in each of Lou’s seventeen years in a streak that may never be broken. Eight times they won District Championships with seven District Runner-up titles. At the Regional level, Lou’s teams won eight Regional Championship titles along with six Regional Runner-up titles. Most significantly, Coach Slapnik’s teams won nine State Championships (eight in Division I and the 2010 title in Division II) along with one Runner-up title in 2007. Collinwood dominated OHSAA competition winning five of those championships consecutively between 1997 and 2001 as well as three in a row between 2004 and 2006. Collinwood became synonymous with the State Meet as they scored 10 or more team points in each of the seventeen years of Lou’s tenure. Under his guidance, Collinwood won State Championship honors in forty-one individual events along with numerous state records, some of which still stand. On the national level, Lou has coached Nike HS Outdoor National Champions in seven events and Collinwood relay teams have been a fixture in these races throughout his career. Lou retired at the end of the 2010 track and field season. Team totals: District Champions: 8 District Runner-up: 7 Regional Champions: 8 Regional Runner-up: 6 State Champions: 9 State Runners-up: 1 OATCCC Indoor State Champions: 5 OATCCC Indoor State Runners-up: 1