Taking over the reins of one of the most storied high school football programs in the state of Ohio is a daunting task in and of itself. Following in the footsteps of the legend who made it that way is even tougher.

But that is exactly the challenge that Ironton’s Mark Vass has accepted, becoming only Ironton’s third head football coach in more than four decades.

Vass was hired Sunday to follow Bob Lutz, a Hall of Fame coach who holds the record for most wins in the entire state.

By all accounts, Vass seems to be poised for success, with a diverse pedigree of coaching experience that will allow him to keep the principles that have been the foundation of Ironton football while also injecting some new ideas.

It will be important that fans and the community show him the same level of support given to Lutz over the years.

Ironton’s success did not happen overnight and sometimes change is not easy.

Mark Vass is not Bob Lutz. He won’t try to be and shouldn’t be held up to some unattainable standards.

Vass needs to be given the time and support to build the program his way.

Sports fans can be fickle, at best, a fact that is often magnified at some programs that are accustomed to a certain level of success.

Every loss becomes catastrophic. Every mistake is over analyzed. That can create an environment that becomes counterproductive.

Mark Vass can be successful at Ironton as long as he tries to be himself and the community understands that too.