Lane out as Coolidge football coach

Jason Lane will not return as Coolidge’s football coach, according to Athletic Director Toby Strong.

Strong said Lane resigned. A school source with knowledge of the situation, however, said the new administration at Coolidge was unhappy with the academic and behavioral performances of many football players and forced the resignation. Prior to this school year, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee turned control of Coolidge over to Friends of Bedford, a firm from New York.

“They weren’t happy with the kids, their grades, behavior, stuff like that,” the source said.

Lane did not respond to a message seeking comment.

In seven seasons, Lane coached the Colts to a 39-36 mark and four playoff appearances, after taking over a program that had gone 17 years without a postseason berth. Coolidge broke Dunbar’s 41-game regular-season winning streak against DCIAA opponents in 2005, but lost to the Crimson Tide in the Turkey Bowl later that season.

The following offseason, however, Lane applied for the coaching vacancy at Ballou, from which he graduated in 1988. Several of his returning players said they felt betrayed that Lane would consider leaving. When former Coolidge assistant Moe Ware ultimately got the Ballou job, several of those players, including All-Mets Marvin Austin and Dwan Thornton, transferred to Ballou and helped the Knights win the school’s first DCIAA title in 2006.

“This is something we have to get on pretty quickly here,” said Strong, who added he will be accepting applications for the position until Jan. 20.