Strus won’t coach O’Hara in playoff game

Interim head coach Paul Strus will not be on the sideline when Cardinal O’Hara travels to William Tennent High School Friday night to play Archbishop Wood in the semifinal round of the Catholic League Class AAA playoffs.

Strus, a longtime assistant coach at O’Hara, was placed on leave by the school due to unspecified reasons. He confirmed in a phone call that he would not be coaching the team for the remainder of the season.

“I wish the kids well and I wish the coaches well,’ Strus said. “They have a tough task ahead of them (playing Wood) and I hope they represent O’Hara well.’

Assistant John Ward will take over head coaching responsibilities in Strus’ absence.

Strus has been a highly-regarded coach at O’Hara for more than a decade. He joined the late Danny Algeo’s staff as a special teams assistant in 2004, when the Lions last captured a Catholic League title. Strus was named head coach on an interim basis shortly after the passing of Algeo last July. Before coming to O’Hara, Strus was an assistant at Monsignor Bonner.

This season has been arguably the worst in the storied history of Cardinal O’Hara football. A perennial Delaware County and Catholic League power, the Lions have posted a 1-8 record.

O’Hara is expected to hire a permanent head coach shortly after the season.