AKRON, Ohio — Tim Flossie, who won everywhere he went during an Akron area high school football coaching career that spanned more than three decades, has died.
Buchtel Community Learning Center, where Flossie won two OHSAA state championships, confirmed his passing Monday night. He was 73 years old.
Flossie followed in the footsteps of his father Dan (known as "Babe"), who led Garfield High School to three unbeaten seasons and 12 Akron City Series championships. Per the Akron Beacon Journal, Tim coached for 34 seasons at four different schools, notably from 1983-96 at Buchtel.
During his 14 years there, Flossie guided the Griffins to their only two state football titles, going back-to-back in Division II in 1987 and '88 behind the talents of future Browns running back Ricky Powers. To date, they are the only member of Akron Public Schools to win it all, and during Flossie's time also earned several city championships and made two more state title game appearances in 1995 and '96.
Prior to his stint at Buchtel, Flossie turned around a moribund Central-Hower program and won multiple City Series championships over four seasons, later returning for two more years prior to the school's closure in 2006. He also spent time at Barberton and Firestone, guiding both teams to the playoffs.
It was at Firestone where Flossie would run into controversy, first in 2011 when he was accused of hitting a player. He survived an attempt to remove him, but three years later he was suspended one game into the season after one parent reported seeing him yell at one player and slap another. An investigation cleared him of physical abuse but found he had used "poor language," and he was permanently removed from his position.
Flossie finished his career with an overall record of 192-147-3, including 109-47-1 at Buchtel. He was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, joining his dad.
"Thank you for all you have done for Buchtel, and the City of Akron," Buchtel wrote on its football Twitter page. Rest In Peace Coach.
Funeral arrangements for Flossie have not been announced.