Ex-Strongsville, West Geauga coach pleads guilty to sex charge involving former student

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Lou Cirino, the former football coach at Strongsville and West Geauga high schools, pleaded guilty Thursday to a sex charge involving a student.

Cirino entered the plea to gross sexual imposition, which stems from an incident with a 17-year-old girl while he taught and coached at West Geauga. He faces as much as 18 months in prison and a fine of $5,000 when Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David Ondrey sentences him.

A hearing date has not been set.

During Thursday's hearing, prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of sexual battery and reduce the imposition charge from a third-degree felony to a fourth.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz and Cirino's attorney, Joseph Klammer, seeking comment.

The gross sexual imposition allegations took place from Dec. 21, 2009, to Dec. 20, 2010, and the victim was a student at the time at West Geauga.

Cirino's admission Thursday ends his career as a teacher and coach. His plea agreement says that he cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school or daycare.

Cirino, 41, had been at West Geauga from 2010 to 2016, when he compiled a 46-28 record. He later went onto Strongsville.

Cirino was fired as Strongsville's coach in December. He finished last season with a 3-8 record. He was replaced by former Browns linebacker Jason Trusnik. This season, Strongsville's record is 7-4.