Lombardi: Metro coaches respond

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Innovative. And extremely competitive.That's how Metro football coaches view Tony Lombardi, who resigned Thursday at Cedar Rapids Washington."He is ultra-competitive, one of the most competitive people I've ever been around," said Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Tim Lewis. "Sometimes when you're that competitive, it can get you into trouble."Lombardi is under investigation with the Iowa Board of Education Examiners for allegedly bullying students at Washington. He was fired from his previous job at Hinsdale (Ill.) Central for using harsh language toward players and assistant coaches.He has been a polarizing figure at Washington. Metro coaches, for the most part, had positive things to say about their former rival."He definitely brought a great mind for the game," Lewis said. "He forced coaches in (the Mississippi Valley Conference) to step up their game. In terms of X's and O's, he is as good as they come."Lombardi was 51-25 in seven football seasons at Washington.He said that he is resigning not because of the investigation, but to spend more time with his family."All varsity coaches can relate to that," said Duane Schulte, who coached Cedar Rapids Xavier to the Class 4A title game last fall. "With Tony, Washington was always a tough opponent. They schemed really well and had kids in the right positions."Washington was 3-6 at the varsity level last season, but is stacked at the sophomore, freshman and eighth-grade levels."People talk like they've got some good classes coming," Schulte said.Prairie Coach Mike Morrissey continued to decline comment about a postgame incident between Lombardi and one of his players last October, an incident that drew a one-game suspension for Lombardi in the final week of the regular season.He did say though, that Lombardi's teams "we're well-disciplined. They played hard. They were tough. When you play Washington, you know you're in for a battle."I don't know Tony well, but I've never had any issues with him."