Rob Stoll returns to coach the Turpin Spartans football team, aiming to restore its competitive standard. His leadership is remembered fondly by former players like Andy Cruse, who recalls a pivotal game-winning play under Stoll's guidance.
Key points
Rob Stoll returns to coach Turpin Spartans football.
Stoll is remembered for his impactful coaching style.
Andy Cruse recalls a pivotal game-winning play under Stoll.
The '91 Sprint Option' is a key play in Turpin's strategy.
Stoll aims to restore the team's competitive standard.
Cruse was a senior in 2007, when top-seeded Turpin led No. 8 Winton Woods, 17-14, late in the fourth quarter. It was fourth down from the Winton Woods' 15-yard line. A short field goal would've extended Turpin's lead to six. Instead, Stoll turned to his seniors.
"What do you guys want to do?" he asked.
"Let's go for it, coach!"
It was Turpin's bread-and-butter play, "91 Sprint Option." Quarterback Ryan Martin lofted a ball toward Cruse, who hauled it in over a defender for a game-sealing touchdown.
Andy Cruse's TD catch with 55.4 seconds remaining sealed Turpin's 24-14 first-round playoff victory over Winton Woods in 2007.
Andy Cruse's TD catch with 55.4 seconds remaining sealed Turpin's 24-14 first-round playoff victory over Winton Woods in 2007.
"That play doesn't happen if he doesn't ask us what we're thinking and what we wanted to do," Cruse said. "There was a level of trust."
That trust, Stoll's demand of excellence and Turpin's commitment to uphold a certain standard, helped carry the program to its only regional title and state Final Four appearance in 2006.
Q&A
Who is Rob Stoll and what is his coaching history?
Rob Stoll is a former head coach of the Turpin Spartans football team, known for his impactful leadership and coaching style.
What significant play did Andy Cruse make during his time at Turpin?
Andy Cruse made a game-winning touchdown catch during a crucial game in 2007, showcasing the trust Stoll placed in his players.
What is the '91 Sprint Option' play that Stoll favored?
The '91 Sprint Option' is a key offensive play used by the Turpin Spartans, emphasizing teamwork and player decision-making.
What impact is Rob Stoll expected to have on the Turpin Spartans football team?
Rob Stoll is expected to restore the competitive standard of the Turpin Spartans football team through his experienced coaching and motivational skills.
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Two decades later, and 10 years since stepping down, Stoll is back as Turpin's head football coach.
Why Rob Stoll returned to Turpin football
Stoll is the winningest coach in school history and a Turpin Hall of Famer. From 2002 to 2016, he built Turpin into one of the area's most consistent winners. He led the Spartans to a 122-48 overall record, nine conference championships and four undefeated regular seasons.
Stoll's decision to return was about timing.
"The honest answer is opportunity," Stoll said. "With coach (Bryan) Walker stepping down, the opportunity was there. It just seemed to be the right time to get back into it."
When he stepped down in 2016, Stoll didn't know what his football future looked like.
"I definitely didn't think I was finished coaching. I didn't know what the next chapter looked like. In some cases, I felt like I had to reinvent who I was because football was such a huge part of my life," Stoll said. "I don't think you ever close doors."
That chapter included significant personal challenges. Stoll's father battled dementia before his passing. Stoll later faced his own fight when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. After recovering, his opportunity to return to the sidelines came at Thomas More University, where he spent two-plus seasons as an assistant.
Rob Stoll on what Turpin football means to him: "It's been really an instrumental part of my life."
Rob Stoll on what Turpin football means to him: "It's been really an instrumental part of my life."
"It was just the perfect place for me to get back to a sport that I truly love and cherish," he said. "It was exactly what I needed."
The time away and return at the collegiate level helped shaped a different version of the same coach.
"I've been through life challenges that have made me a little wiser," Stoll said. "I they're getting a wiser, more patient coach Stoll than they had when I left."
Why Rob Stoll was the right man for the job
Cruse, who was head coach at Loveland and now coaches the Miami RedHawks receivers, remembers Stoll as intense and demanding.
"He was fiery. He wanted things done a certain way," Cruse said. "He demanded excellence."
At the same time, Stoll was able to balance the discipline he instilled with great relationships up and down the roster.
"From the third-string tight end to the starting quarterback, he's the same way with everybody," Cruse said. "We all knew what the standard was, and we chased it every single day."
Rob Stoll is the winningest coach in Turpin history. From 2002-2016, he led the Spartans to a 122-48 overall record, nine league titles and a regional championship.
Rob Stoll is the winningest coach in Turpin history. From 2002-2016, he led the Spartans to a 122-48 overall record, nine league titles and a regional championship.
That standard became the foundation of Turpin's success and is why Cruse believes his former coach can restore the program.
"He knows how to build something and sustain a program," Cruse said. "He is 100% the right man for the job."
Rob Stoll aims to restore Turpin's glory days
Since Stoll left in 2016, Turpin is just 43-48 overall and 33-37 in Eastern Cincinnati Conference play. The Spartans won a conference title under Kent McCullough in 2019 but have missed the playoffs four times in nine seasons and haven't posted a winning year since 2021.
"If there's one thing you need to understand about me," Stoll said when he addressed the team, "it's that I absolutely, 100% hate to lose. We're gonna do everything we can on Day 1 to control our future."
Before the pads have clashed, the early signs have been encouraging with packed offseason lifting sessions and a renewed energy around a program.
Rob Stoll's Turpin Spartans won the program's only regional championship in 2006.
Rob Stoll's Turpin Spartans won the program's only regional championship in 2006.
"With expectations and culture, it's like building a structure brick by brick," Stoll said. "It takes leadership, it takes time, commitment, buy-in. It happens over time through daily work."
As Stoll begins his second stint at a program that has been "an instrumental part" of his life, the goal is both familiar and ambitious. He wants to restore the standard that once made deep playoff runs feel expected.
"I want them to feel that same amount of success," Stoll said. "We got to a point where if you weren't getting to the semifinal or state game, it was almost a letdown. I want to get back to that point."
