 In
1974, Bellevue native Ed Nasonti began an athletic career at
Bellevue Senior High School that continues today, 30 years
later.
One of the most successful male athletes to ever wear the
red and white of Bellevue, Nasonti carried that athletic
success into a stellar coaching career, which continues to
this day.
As a member of three different AAA (big school) varsity
sports at BHS, Nasonti earned a total of nine letters in the
“big three” sports of football, basketball, and baseball.
As a third baseman for the Redmen, Nasonti was a three year
letter winner and starter, was honorable mention All
Northern Ohio League in 1976, was first team All NOL in
1977, and was captain and team MVP in 1977.
As a forward on the basketball team, Nasonti also earned
three letters as a three-year starter. He was honorable
mention All NOL in 1976 and first team all league in 1977.
In addition to being named captain and team MVP in 1977,
Nasonti was named All Northwest District and was honorable
mention All Ohio for AAA schools.
But it was in football where Nasonti really excelled,
lettering three times (1974-76) as tailback/quarterback for
the Redmen. He was named first team All Northern Ohio League
quarterback in both 1975 and 1976, guiding the team to the
NOL title in 1975. He was named captain and MVP in 1976, was
All Northwest District, and was named honorable mention All
Ohio.
Nasonti then attended the University of Toledo on a full
athletic scholarship from 1977-81, where he lettered as a
defensive back for the Rockets.
For all his high school success, Nasonti was named as the
Gazette Award winner for 1977, an honor given to the most
valuable male performer each year on a vote of athletes and
coaches.
Nasonti continued his ties with Bellevue Senior High School,
returning as a teacher/coach upon completing his college
degree.
As a varsity baseball coach for the Redmen, Nasonti guided
the team to the 1985 Class AA state championship. In 10
seasons as head coach, Nasonti compiled a record of 145-82
from 1983-92. Included in the run was one Northern Ohio
League title, six sectional championships, two district
titles, one regional title, and the aforementioned state
championship.
In 1991 , Nasonti seized the opportunity to guide the
Bellevue Redmen football team as head coach, a position he
currently holds for the red and white. His current coaching
record is second to none in Redmen history. At the end
of the 2004 campaign Coach Nasonti stood with 126 wins and
30 losses, an 80.7 percent success rate. In regular season
play, Nasonti’s stood at 118-22, an 84.2 percent success
rate, and in conference games only, Nasonti has guided the
Redmen to a record of 83-14, an 85.6 percent success rate.
Since taking over the helm of the football program, Nasonti
has won 11 Northern Ohio League titles, including seven
titles in the 1990s. The team has made eight playoff
appearances under Nasonti’s guidance, and since 1991, the
Redmen have won two regional football titles and have
appeared in Football’s Final Four on two different
occasions.
Nasonti is currently a teacher/coach at Bellevue Senior High
School. |
