LAKEWOOD - Rick Finotti, one of the area's most accomplished defensive coordinators, is St. Edward's new football coach.

Finotti was the defensive coordinator at Mayfield, which registered six consecutive shutouts on its way to a 10-2 record and a Division II playoff berth this past season. Working with Mayfield coach Larry Pinto, Finotti directed the Wildcats' 3-5 stack defense that blanked opponents for 29 straight quarters.

Finotti is a graduate of Cleveland State and Villa Angela-St. Joseph. He played on VASJ's 1989 Division II state championship team.

Finotti teaches math and history in the Mayfield school system. He was named the Region 3 assistant coach of the year this past fall by the Ohio High School Coaches Association.

Finotti replaces Scott Niedzwiecki at St. Edward. The coaching position has been vacant since Niedzwiecki's departure on Jan. 12. St. Edward principal Eugene Boyer then said Niedzwiecki resigned. Niedzwiecki said he was forced to resign.

St. Edward went 10-11 in two seasons with Niedzwiecki as coach, including a 6-5 record last season and a loss to rival and eventual Division I state champion St. Ignatius in a first-round playoff game. The Eagles began the season 6-1, before getting hit with a series of injuries and closing the season with a four-game losing streak.

Boyer recently said there were 42 applicants for the job. St. Edward's junior varsity and freshman teams went undefeated last season.

Niedzwiecki had replaced 10-year coach John Gibbons, who was fired after the 2006 season. Gibbons is now Bedford's coach.