The city of Perry is on the lookout for a new head coach as former star offensive lineman Zach Slates has stepped down from his position after four seasons with the Perry Panthers football team. Slates confirmed his departure with a message on Tuesday night, expressing both his appreciation for the opportunity and his understanding of the coaching profession’s ups and downs.
During his time as head coach, Slates led the Panthers to a record of 16 wins and 28 losses, with a playoff record of 1-3. This past season was his most successful, as the Panthers finished with a 6-6 record. They ended the season on a strong note by winning their last two regular-season games and a first-round playoff game against Northland with a score of 34-6. However, the Panthers’ playoff run ended with a 35-24 loss to Big Walnut, a team that went on to reach the state semifinals.
Slates acknowledged the challenges he faced, especially noting that the team had previously reached the playoffs with *4-7* records in the past two years. The 2023 season marks the third consecutive year that Perry made it to the playoffs under his guidance. Slates reflected on his time at Perry, stating, “I feel like we did a lot of good things and believe the alignment of the youth moving up has gotten to the point where it needs to be finally,” highlighting his efforts to integrate youth programs with the high school team.
Before becoming head coach, Slates was already well-known in the Perry community. As a player from 2000 to 2002, he was part of a team that recorded 29 wins and 7 losses and helped lead the Panthers to a state semifinal in 2000. Slates was a highly recruited athlete and went on to play at the University of Pittsburgh.
After starting his coaching career at St. Vincent-St. Mary, he returned to Perry as an assistant and eventually took over as head coach in 2020 when Keith Wakefield retired. Wakefield remains a legendary figure in Perry football, with an impressive record of 222 wins and 15 league titles over his career.
As the Perry football program begins its search for a new head coach, the community remains grateful for Slates’ contributions and looks forward to the next chapter for the Panthers.
