Lexington High School and the Minutemen football program are grieving the sudden loss of head coach and assistant principal Andrew Saris, who died unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 30. He was 38 years old.
Athletic director Jeff Eichorn shared the news with parents and students through a message sent via FinalForms, calling Saris far more than the titles he held.
Eichorn described him as a mentor and a steady presence who believed in every student he worked with, both on the field and away from it.
He said Saris’s impact on the school and the football program ran much deeper than any statistic or job title could capture.
A Program on the Rise
Saris had just wrapped up his fourth season leading the Minutemen in 2025, guiding the team to a 9- 2 record and the Ohio Cardinal Conference championship outright.
That title was the program’s first league championship since 2016 and the first time Lexington had won the conference outright since 2008. His success on the sideline earned him recognition as Division III Northwest District Co-Coach of the Year.
Before arriving at Lexington, Saris built a coaching career at Madison, where he spent years shaping student athletes not just in football but in track and weightlifting as well.
Several former players and parents have described him as someone who pushed young people hard because he genuinely cared about their growth, both as athletes and as people.
Roots in Smithville
Saris graduated from Smithville High School in 2005, where he played football and competed in track. He was recognized as an All-Ohio defensive back and helped lead his high school team to a state championship appearance in 2002.
That competitive foundation carried into his coaching career, where colleagues say he brought the same intensity and care to every program he touched.
One longtime sports writer who covered the area recalled Saris fondly from his years directing girls’ track at Madison, noting the friendly rivalry he shared with another area coach over conference titles.
That writer said the two eventually crossed paths again years later, after both moved on to different schools, turning what began as a mentorship into a respected professional rivalry.
Community Grieves Together
In the wake of his passing, Lexington Schools is bringing in grief counselors to support students and staff. The football team is expected to gather in the coming days, alongside teachers and administrators from across the district, to process the loss together.
Eichorn urged students to lean on one another and check in on their teammates, adding that doing so reflects the exact kind of community Saris worked to build during his time at the school.
He also asked the community to keep Saris’s family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Tributes have continued to pour in from former students, players, and parents, many describing Saris as a coach who left a lasting mark far beyond wins and losses. He is remembered as a mentor who genuinely invested in the lives of the young people around him.
