Lane names Tony Faltin new coach

After a lengthy search to find a new football coach, Lane has their man, Anthony “Tony” Faltin.

Faltin replaces Fred Proesel, who stepped down after five seasons. Faltin has coached at Payton for the past five seasons, where he won an Inter-City, Great Lakes and Heartland conference championship. The Grizzlies qualified for a state playoff berth in four of the five years Faltin was the coach and finished 23-3 in conference play.

Faltin said it was a difficult decision but one he felt he had to make.

“It was difficult. I had some great kids and parents at Payton,” Faltin said. “Lane may be the only place that I would have left for, so this is an opportunity to coach at a school with a rich tradition and it was too hard to turn away. I am excited and ready to get to work.”

Faltin has had other offers but said he feels connected to the public league. “I am not motivated by money,” Faltin said. “My parents taught me that you have to have passion for what you do. I feel blessed to be given this opportunity.”

Faltin’s first priority will be putting together a quality staff. Dan Cosasanto, who served as an assistant coach at Payton, will follow Faltin to Lane. The two have been best friends since they were 14 years old and both played on the 1999 Mount Carmel state championship team. “I am looking forward to the challenge and I know I am going in the right direction.”