Tradition isn't just a word at Manchester, it's instilled in every player that ever takes the field at James R. France stadium with Panther Pride. And while the trophy cases in the halls of MHS are filled, it's about more than the hardware. From the time boys are old enough to play their first game in the backyard, they dream of wearing the red and black and continuing the legacy that is Panther football.
C.L. "Swede" Olsson was born in Akron, Ohio. He graduated from Central High School and Mercer College where he was an All-American in football and charter member of their Hall of Fame. He played professional football for the Washington Redskins and was selected as an All-Pro guard in 1938.
Swede was hired as Manchester's second football coach in 1945. Under his guidance, Manchester won Suburban League Championships in 1952 and 1963. His teams, though small in stature and numbers, were always tough, competitive and exciting to watch. In 25 years as Head Football Coach at Manchester, he compiled a record of 131-82-7.
Coach Olsson was a winner of the Beacon Journal Touchdown Club "Coach of the Year" award in 1957 and was elected to the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 1958.
Swede retired from coaching football in 1970 and was named Athletic Director the following year. He died in July, 1972.
The Swede Olsson Hall of Fame was established in 1971 to keep alive the memories of this very popular man who influenced our students, schools and community.
Jim France is a native of Springfield, Ohio, and a graduate of Springfield High School, where he was an outstanding three-sport athlete and charter member of it's Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also an ex-marine and a graduate of the University of Akron.
"Koach" was hired as Manchester's football coach in 1971 and has remained in that role ever since, minus the 1985 season when he took over as Principal at Manchester High School. With a career coaching record of 401-129-4 (398-122-4 at MHS), he holds the record for most career victories in the state of Ohio and has never had a losing season in his 48 years at Manchester. Under Coach France, the Panthers have become a traditional power, consistently finishing in the AP Top 10 and making 25 appearances in the state playoffs, including the Division IV state title game in 1997.
Manchester's home field was officially named "James R. France Stadium" in 1989, the same year the school's Athletic Hall of Fame was renamed the "Swede Olsson / James R. France Athletic Hall of Fame".
The following is a partial list of his many highlights, awards and honors:
James R. France
23 League Championships
2 Regional Championships
1 State Runner-Up
2 AP State Championships
1 UPI and OHSFCA State Championship
2 Coaching appearances in the Summit County All-Star Game
2 Coaching appearances in the Summit / Stark All-Star Game
3 Coaching appearances (1 as Head Coach) in the North / South State All-Star Game
21 League "Coach of the Year" Awards (1974, '76, '81, '89, '90, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '02, '04, '09, '10, '12, '17, '19)
2 NEO District "Coach of the Year" Awards (1992, '97)
3-time Summit County "Coach of the Year" (1989, '92, '97)
Dapper Dan Athletic Award 1989
Plain Dealer Summit / Medina "Coach of the Year" 1997
3-time AP Division (4 & 5) State "Coach of the Year" 1992, '97, 2019
Clem Caraboolad "Coach of the Year" 1990
Dapper Dan William Falor award 1998
Summit County Sports Hall of Fame 1996
University of Akron Athletic Hall of Fame 1999
OHSFCA Hall of Fame 2004
Coach France serves in many organizations and clubs, and is the Region VI Director of the Ohio HS Football Coaches Association. The "Panther Paws" Booster Club has given out $1,000 James R. France Scholarships every year since 1984. He still resides in Springfield, in the home he shared with his wife of 56 years, Nancy, before she passed in 2019. He has a daughter, Jennifer (married to Troy), and two sons, Jason (married to Darla) and Jeff. He also has 6 grandchildren: Jessica, Mallory, Jackson, Jake, Joseph, and Janiece.
*All information updated December 2019
Long-time Assistant Coaches
"Doc" Dr. James Robinson
Scott Cantrell
Jason France
"Mac" John McDowell
Mac was a teacher and coach for the Manchester Schools from 1950 through 1983. He was the defensive coordinator throughout his tenure, first under Swede Olsson and then Jim France. He is credited with originating the Panthers’ 5-3 defensive scheme. Coach McDowell passed away in March 2008 after a brief illness.
Coach Cantrell was on the Panther football staff for 29 years. He was the offensive line coach and assisted with the defense, as well as the kick-off and kick-return teams. He has also coached running backs, receivers and defensive backs during his tenure.
Scott coached 30 years total, and has lead various sports at Manchester. He was an assistant baseball coach, junior varsity basketball coach and head softball coach. His 1990 softball team won the state title. Scott is also an honorary member of the Swede Olsson-Jim France Hall of Fame.
"Doc" coached Manchester football from 1973 - 2013. He has worked on all facets of the Manchester game in that time from coaching receivers, offensive linemen and special teams to being the defensive coordinator. In his 30 years as the defensive coordinator he is most proud of working with a great coaching staff and hard working players that achieved 21 appearances in the state playoffs, 21 league titles and 8 undefeated seasons with over 200 victories. He has also had the pleasure of working with many of Manchester’s athletes in the sport of wrestling where he was the head coach for more than 25 years.
In that time he coached more than 3 dozen state wrestling qualifiers and placers along with more than 50 individual league champions, including Manchester’s first state champion, as well as being named as the Summit County Coach of the year. Coach Robinson is an honorary member of the Swede Olsson-Jim France Hall of Fame, and retired from the staff in 2014 to become the Manchester Superintendent.
He was an honorary inductee into the Jim France / Swede Olsson Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jason, the son of Jim, has been an assistant for over 20 years. A 1991 Panther grad, Jason quarterbacked the first playoff team in school history and was first team all league. Jason was also inducted into the
Jim France / Swede Olsson Hall of Fame in 2000. He is now the Offensive Coordinator / Quarterback / Receiver Coach for the Panthers, and also coached basketball at several levels.
