[November 26, 2024] – After 30 years of dedicated service to Dover Schools and a
distinguished coaching career, Dan Ifft, the Crimson Tornadoes’ head football coach,
has announced his retirement.
Coach Ifft’s time at Dover has been marked by consistent excellence, with an impressive 247 victories at the school and an overall record of 247-93, resulting in a remarkable 73% winning percentage. His teams’ successes include:
• 11 seasons with 9 or more wins
• 3 undefeated regular seasons
• 18 ECOL Championships
• 1 OHSAA "Final Four" appearance
• 7 OHSAA Regional Championship ("Elite 8") Game appearances
• 23 OHSAA state-tournament qualifying teams
• 9 AP Poll Ohio "Top Ten" rankings
• 1 Ohio AP Poll championship team
Throughout his career, Coach Ifft fearlessly led his teams against top competition, playing 115 state-ranked opponents, including 78 “top ten” state ranked teams, 17 of whom held the #1 ranking at the time of the game. Ifft’s teams won 22 state playoff games and made 45 tournament game appearances. Coach Ifft held a record of 23-8 against the school’s rival, a 74% winning percentage.
“The Dover Board of Education, administration, staff, student-athletes, and community have meant so much to me. I could never repay the love and support provided to me, my wife Jill, and our family. However, after 30 years, the time is right for me to pass the torch to the next generation of coaching,” said Ifft. “The Dover Football program will continue the excellence that began in 1896; it has been my honor to be a small part of the 122 years of this storied tradition.”
Ifft earned many accolades in Ohio football, as he was the ECOL “Coach of the Year” 17 times and was the Eastern District “Coach of the Year three times. In 2021, Ifft was an OVAC “Coach of the Year” finalist and a finalist for the Cleveland Browns High School Coach of the Year. In 2007, Ifft was the head coach of the “Big 33” Ohio-Pennsylvania Game, and he served as an assistant coach in that game in 2000 and in Ohio’s NorthSouth Game in 1996. Ifft was a 2016 inductee into the Ohio Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
"Coach Ifft’s impact on Dover football is immeasurable," said Athletic Director Tim McCrate, who also served as an assistant coach under Ifft for 15 years. "He built a program that is synonymous with success, integrity, and dedication. Beyond the wins and championships, he instilled values in his players that will serve them well beyond the football field. He values family, community, and the spirit of teamwork, and has worked hard to build a program built on that foundation. He is a true legend and, quite simply, a good man. I know the Crimson Tornado faithful everywhere are grateful for his years of service."
Coach Ifft, a Kent State University graduate, leaves a legacy of unparalleled success. Before arriving at Dover, he honed his coaching skills as an assistant coach at Massillon Perry High School for ten years. After 45 years of coaching football, his dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence have left an enduring mark on the lives he has touched throughout his career.
Coach Ifft’s family includes Jill, his wife of 42 years, and children Amber (Zac), Daniel (Kate), and Christian. All three of their children are Dover High School alumni. Coach Ifft is also a proud grandfather to five grandchildren: Decker, Quinn, and Zara Bruney and Elijah and Isla Ifft. “I feel the need to be a full-time husband, father and grandfather. The best part about growing old is family, especially grandchildren,” said Ifft. “As much as I enjoy coaching, I need to turn the corner on my life and become a bigger part in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much so that I could live my dream of coaching high school football.”