Zach Loboy

Introduction

Zach Loboy, the head varsity football coach at Marist Catholic High School in Eugene, Oregon, was removed from his position effective immediately on October 12, 2026, days after his Spartans routed Cottage Grove 63-0 in a game in which Marist attempted an onside kick while leading 57-0. Principal Bob Fraley announced the decision in an email to football parents and guardians: “I am writing to inform you that Marist has made the decision to remove Zach Loboy from his position as Head Varsity Football Coach, effective immediately… Following Friday’s game against Cottage Grove, we determined that a change in leadership was necessary to reflect our school’s mission and values.” Athletic director Rick Gardner confirmed the removal the next day. The school has not announced a specific reason beyond the values statement; reporting has attributed the firing to the blowout tactics.

Background Information

Loboy had spent several years as an assistant at Marist Catholic before taking over as head coach in 2024, succeeding Charlie Landegraf, whose first season at the helm in 2023 ended in the state championship game before he left for Central Catholic in Portland. Marist went 4-6 in 2025 and stood 3-3 through six games this season. The school is a private college-preparatory institution founded in 1968 that enrolls fewer than 450 students in grades 9 through 12; its Spartans compete in Class 4A, Special District 3 of the Oregon School Activities Association. Cottage Grove came into the Oct. 9 game at 1-5, in the middle of a five-game losing streak during which it had been outscored by a combined 206-36.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Firing over sportsmanship, not misconduct. Loboy was not accused of any crime, and no allegation of personal wrongdoing, investigation or charge appears in the coverage cited. His removal followed a viral sportsmanship controversy: a 63-0 win in which his team onside-kicked while up 57-0. The school’s public statements cite only its “mission and values” and name no rule; the run-up-the-score explanation comes from attributed reporting, not an official finding, and nothing on this page accuses him of misconduct beyond that contested judgment call.

Marist Catholic led Cottage Grove 57-0 with 1:47 remaining in the second quarter of the Oct. 9 game when the Spartans attempted an onside kick toward the right sideline. The ball went out of bounds for a penalty, and footage of the moment circulated widely online. KVAL’s clip of the game also showed Marist successfully converting another onside attempt, though the score at the time was not displayed. Per KEZI 9 Sports, the school’s athletic directors got together during the first half and discussed ending the contest early; the game was ultimately called at halftime due to the lopsided score. Cottage Grove recovered the late onside kick but threw an interception on the following series, and Marist scored again near the end of the half to make it 63-0 at the break.

Fraley’s email went out to football families on Monday afternoon, Oct. 12. “We recognize that a coaching change in the middle of a season can be difficult for players and families,” it read. “We appreciate your understanding, support, and prayers as we navigate this transition. Thank you for your continued commitment to Marist and our student athletes.” Gardner confirmed the removal to Lookout Eugene-Springfield, which reported that Mid-Major Media first reported the story. The school stopped short of explaining the decision. KEZI’s Brett Austin Taylor reported that it was “believed” Loboy was let go for running up the score, conduct the school said goes against its mission core values, and BroBible framed the ouster as a code-of-conduct matter tied to the margin, writing that Marist Catholic “ran up the score in violation of the honor code.” No official school statement named the onside kicks or any specific rule.

Public Reaction and Consequences

Video of the onside kick while leading 57-0 spread widely and drew national coverage — the New York Post and USA Today among the outlets that picked up a mid-season firing at an Oregon high school over an onside kick. The coverage framed the episode as a sportsmanship controversy rather than a scandal involving any personal conduct: BroBible noted Marist’s middling 3-3 record — “It’s not like they started 0-6. And yet, Loboy was still fired” — and argued the dominant win was “the proverbial nail in the coffin” because Loboy “ran up the score.” The immediate consequence was the removal itself, effective immediately, with the program handed to an interim coach for the rest of the season.

Current Status

As of October 14, 2026, Loboy is out as Marist Catholic’s head varsity football coach, removed effective immediately, and Jake Lowther — the Spartans’ offensive line coach and assistant head coach, who joined the staff this year after a stint at Cascade High School — is serving as interim head coach. Marist (3-3, 2-1) is scheduled to play at North Bend (3-3, 2-1) on Friday, Oct. 16. “We are confident that Jake will provide the leadership and guidance our student-athletes need,” Fraley wrote, per KVAL. Loboy has not publicly commented on the firing in the coverage cited, and the school has not responded publicly beyond Fraley’s letter and Gardner’s confirmation. No lawsuit, grievance or further disciplinary process has been reported.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The firing ends Loboy’s head-coaching run fewer than two seasons after he took the job and ties his name to a national debate about running up scores in high school sports: a coach whose team led 57-0 and still tried an onside kick lost his job over it, at a school that said the win did not reflect its mission and values. His several prior years in the Marist program and the program’s 2023 title-game run under his predecessor now sit behind a moment that became the defining search result for his name — evidence that in the high school ranks, a school administration’s sportsmanship expectations can end a tenure as abruptly as any losing season.

Sources

New York Post, “Oregon high school football coach Zach LoBoy fired after ruthless onside kick,” Oct. 14, 2026 — source
On3, “Oregon high school football coach dismissed days after running up score in 63-0 victory,” Oct. 13, 2026 — source
NY Post on X, “Oregon high school football coach fired after ruthless onside kick,” Oct. 14, 2026 — source
Lookout Eugene-Springfield, “Marist Catholic High School removes head football coach,” Oct. 13, 2026 — source
BroBible, “Oregon HSFB Coach Violated The Honor Code With Blowout Win,” Oct. 13, 2026 — source