Doug Bonura, Cair Paravel football's winningest head coach, departs
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TOPEKA — Cair Paravel football will be searching for a new head football coach this offseason.
Doug Bonura, the winningest head coach in program history, has departed after 13 seasons. Bonura held a 63-59 all-time record in his career. Bonura has 40 more wins than any other coach in school history, ushering the school into its best era of football.
“He is looking for some time to be with his family, and he thought it was his time to step away,” Cair Paravel athletic director Gary Cleverdon said. “No ill issues with Doug whatsoever. He’s been the face of football for our school.”
Under Bonura, Cair Paravel transitioned into a full-fledged KSHSAA member. He also helped guide the team into 11-man football for the first time in school history.
Cair Paravel went 5-13 in the previous two seasons in 11-man football. Before transitioning to KSHSAA in 2022, Bonura won two Kansas Christian Athletic Association state championships. The Lions claimed the top prize in 2013 and 2021.
Due to a small decline in student population, Cair Paravel will be stepping down to 8-man football next year.
“He’s done way more than just coach football,” Cleverdon said. “He’s helped raise the young men in our school. It’s going to be tough. It’s hard to think about football at our school without Doug Bonura.”
This season, the Lions went 3-6 with big victories over West Franklin, Maranatha Christian Academy and Uniontown. Bonura’s youngest son, senior running back Tobias, and linebacker Cole Haubold were first-team all-Flint Hills League selections this season. Eight other Cair Paravel players received all-conference honors, too.
Cair Paravel’s athletic department has posted the new head football coaching job online. According to Cleverdon, he hopes to find a head coach with strong knowledge of the school and the athletic department. The school is not in a rush to hire someone. Bonura will still be teaching in the school and will be a helping hand in the transition.
“We would prefer to fill from within,” Cleverdon said. “We have some potential candidates in that way. We want to open it up to see what’s out there, but whoever the football coach is, they have to be a strong person of faith. They have to have solid character traits.”
According to Cair Paravel’s website, Randy Bond, Brian Ewing, Keith Fine, Robert Forman and Andrew Lindeman were all assistant coaches on staff this season.
Along with Bonura, Cleverdon will also be retiring as athletic director at the end of the school year. He told the Capital-Journal that an announcement on his replacement will be coming shortly.
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Doug Bonura departs Cair Paravel football after 13 seasons
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