Posted
November 05, 2025
For 11 years, Head Football Coach Tom Lombardo has guided the Eagles with vision, discipline, and heart. Five state championships later, his impact goes beyond the scoreboard—he upholds a tradition of excellence few programs can match. As the Eagles begin their postseason run tomorrow night, he reflects on this year’s team, his coaching journey, and the brotherhood that shapes every player who wears the Green & Gold.
After more than a decade on the sidelines at St. Edward, what still gives you that spark on game day?
The kids. Always the kids. I still get butterflies before every game, no matter how many seasons I’ve coached or how many championships we’ve celebrated. Each year brings a new group with its own story. Once that feeling goes away, that’s probably when I’ll know it’s time to hang it up. But it hasn’t left me yet. I’m all in.
Your family is practically part of the playbook here. What’s it like sharing this journey with them?
I’ve been married to my wonderful wife, Anne, for 27 years. We got married on my birthday, which was the best gift I ever received. We have four kids. Both boys went to St. Ed’s. Tommy graduated in 2018 and Michael in 2020. Tommy is an engineer who still runs our end-zone cameras at games. Michael actually works here now. We coach together and we both teach math. Not many people get to coach their son and then become colleagues. It’s pretty amazing. Our daughters are doing great too. Mary is studying nursing at Ohio State, and Christina is at Kent State. We’re very proud of them.
Brotherhood is a word we hear constantly in these halls. What does it mean to you?
When I first joined the program in the early 2000s, my father-in-law, John Gibbons, was the head coach. He impressed on me right away that this job is about forming young men who look out for one another. The Holy Cross pillars—faith, excellence, relationships, and servant leadership—guide everything we do. Brotherhood at St. Ed’s isn’t a slogan. It’s built through shared work, shared accountability, and a shared belief that we’re part of something bigger.
Eagle football is known for being inclusive. Why is that important to you?
We’re a no-cut program. If an Edsman puts in the work, he has a spot on the team. That’s how it has always been and how it should be. We have 80 freshman players, and varsity is 110 kids. Playing time is earned, but everyone has a role. There’s one ball, and only one guy gets the ball. But the ring doesn’t discriminate. Everyone is part of it.
You’ve coached a lot of talented players. What stands out about this year’s team?
I’m really proud of their selflessness and sense of purpose. After winning three state championships in a row, we fell short last year, and I think they put their minds in very early this season that they want it again. They are working toward it, but I let them know that it’s the journey that matters. We talk a lot about accountability and being a good teammate while competing. Those are the lessons they’ll take with them, no matter how the season ends.
Expectations are high. How do you help your athletes handle that pressure?
Because we’ve brought home five titles in the last decade, there’s definitely an expectation. And that’s a great thing—it means people believe in what these kids can do. But I always remind them that they should be proud of the work they’re putting in, and that sometimes the ball bounces in funny ways. Success is defined by much more than a scoreboard. Still, you keep score for a reason, and you try to win every one. In the postseason, every game feels like a state championship game. So right now, all we’re focused on is tomorrow night.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Basketball was actually my first love. I coached at University School in Shaker Heights back in the ’90s.
Your coaching staff has stayed together for a long time. How does that shape the program?
Continuity is huge. We have 27 football coaches, including 13 alums and 10 former players. Coach Greg Urbas leads our freshman team and has been an incredible part of this tradition. Twelve of our coaches have been with me for a decade. We can disagree and challenge each other, but it’s always built on respect. The kids feel that unity.
A team of nearly 200 young men… how do you get that many personalities to gel?
Nothing is perfect, and that’s okay. We find ways to build trust off the field, as well. Coaching legend Vince Lombardi said, “If we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” At St. Ed’s, we all chase it together.
Fans see the plays and the scoreboards. What don’t they see?
They don’t see the year-round work. As coaches, we meet every Sunday morning to prepare for the week. Then, we work every weekday, and Saturdays if it’s a game day. The kids practice two hours a day, four days a week after school, then they play a game on Friday or Saturday. The team does strength conditioning twice a week. There isn’t really an off-season. We will start lifting and conditioning as soon as we come back from Christmas break. When the school year ends, athletes are allowed 18 practices and workouts over the summer, and preseason begins August 1. It’s a grind, but it’s worth it.
What does the community energy at games mean to the players?
Everything. You feel the alumni behind you. You feel the student section, dressed in theme and loud as can be. Tradition matters here, and each team wants to honor the ones who came before them. That support helps our guys play their best and feel part of something bigger.
Mass before every game has become a beloved part of your routine. Why is it important to you?
It places everything in the right perspective. There’s a destination bigger than the stadium. These young men will face ups and downs in life, and if you can ground experiences like this in Christ, we’ve given them something lasting.
When you look around at all of this—what keeps you coming back?
I feel blessed. Success doesn’t happen unless everyone is pedaling in the same direction, and the support at St. Ed’s—from the president to our athletic department to our fantastic families—is unmatched. Every year, a new group of young men walks onto this field, and I get to help them grow. Titles are temporary, but the impact you make on a kid is lasting. That’s what keeps me coming back.
Game day images by Pat Gallagher '75