The close-knit town of Lexington is dealing with a massive loss right now. Andrew Saris, a deeply loved local high school football coach and assistant principal, passed away completely out of the blue on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. He was only 38 years old. The news has left a heavy cloud over the entire community, where he was known as a rock-solid mentor to hundreds of kids.
Saris wore a lot of hats at Lexington High School over the years. He served as the Dean of Students and the head football coach, and he also spent time coaching baseball. He spent his days helping kids find their way through the complicated high school years, both in the classroom and out on the grass.
On the football field, Saris recently took the program to some incredible new heights. Just last fall, during the 2025 season, he guided the Lexington Minutemen to a fantastic 9-2 record. They captured the outright Ohio Cardinal Conference championship, which was a huge deal because the school hadn’t won a league title since 2016, and hadn’t won it completely outright since all the way back in 2008.
Long before he was pacing the sidelines as a coach, Saris was a standout athlete himself. He graduated from Smithville High School back in 2005, where he made a name for himself as an All-Ohio defensive back. He went on to graduate from Walsh University in 2010, where he kept running track and learning the ropes of how to guide the next generation.
What truly made Saris special wasn’t just the wins or the trophies. He was the kind of guy who cared about teaching life lessons like grit, respect, and hard work. He believed in every single student who walked through his door, even when those students didn’t quite believe in themselves yet.
The local community is now pouring its heart out with beautiful tributes for the late coach. One former student shared that Saris felt like real family, acting as a true role model during some of the most critical moments of growing up. They remembered the early morning drives to track meets, the hot summer practices, and how safe his classroom always felt.
Saris leaves behind a wonderful family, including his wife Erin and their two young children, Henry and Mia. The community is keeping his family close in their prayers right now. His true legacy is going to live on through the countless young lives he helped shape right here in Ohio.
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