For Frank Hall, a former coach at Chardon High School, watching the aftermath of the school shooting in Florida had to be like awful deja vu.
Like reliving the worst day of his life, when a scrawny student with a gun opened fire inside Chardon High School.
Coach Frank Hall saved students' lives that day by stepping into the gunman's path. Contrary to what he'll tell you, Coach Frank Hall IS a hero.
The covers of major news publications proclaimed it 6 years ago, almost to the day, as a matter of fact.
It was February 27, 2012, forever carved into the collective mind of Chardon.
It cut deep. It still hurts.
3 Chardon High School students went to school and didn't come home. Another would never walk again.
Coach Frank Hall dodged a bullet himself, then chased the gunman out of the building.
That was almost 6 years ago.
And when Coach Frank Hall took the podium, for reporters, ready to praise him, he said, "I only wish I could've done more."
Now 17 MORE lives are lost.
Gunned down. Again.
In school. Again.
In Florida this time.
And the hurt that Coach Hall knows firsthand leaves him feeling...
"Hopeless and pissed off is what I've been feeling the last 24 hours," says Hall.
But he is alive to say it.
Two coaches and the AD at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School died heroes yesterday.
This hero is still saving lives.
The Coach Hall Foundation is helping to get police officers into every school in America. Security personnel trained to protect so teachers can teach, students stay safe, and parents have some peace of mind.
Coach Hall sees it all through the lens of a parent now, as well.
He and wife Ashley adopted 10 kids. 9 are still at home. Some of them are siblings the Halls helped keep together.
A Minnesota man, so impressed with Hall, bought the Halls a bigger home for their growing family in Ashtabula County.
To the extended family in Florida. To the students, parents, teachers who make up the living body of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, beyond the walls where 17 lives were stolen, Hall wants to say, "Stand up and fight. And don’t let this be the definition of who their community is. To mourn the loss of the children who passed away but to stand up and don't let evil win."
This from the coach who is woven into that "One Heartbeat" call for unity that came out of Chardon. It began beating that day when so many hearts were broken.
And get this, part of Coach Hall’s heart also goes out to Nikolas Cruz, arrested after yesterday’s shooting.
“His life is over too. We are failing across the board. How did we get this way? Can we please stop sending thoughts and prayers and let’s get to work".
Coach Hall, by the way, is following his heart back to coach football at Chardon High School next year.