Lawrence Central High School gets new head football coach

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Lawrence Central High School football program has a new head coach.

On Monday night, the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township approved Russ Mann as the Bears’ next head football coach.

Mann was most recently the head coach at Ben Davis High School, where he led the Giants to a state championship in 2023.

“My leadership style brings everyone together in the pursuit of excellence,” Mann said in a press release. “I know what winning looks like and am confident that with leadership, hard work, and tactical analyses, Lawrence Central will quickly become one of the Indiana’s most dominant football programs.”

Mann resigned from Ben Davis in November after being the Giants’ head coach for three seasons. Mann said the administration at Ben Davis told him that it wanted to move in a different direction. He went 21-14 overall during his time as Ben Davis head coach.

“Our community is ready to get Lawrence Central back to state champion status, and I have every confidence in Coach Mann to take the Bears to the next level,” Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn A. Smith said in the press release. “I know firsthand that a high-quality football program develops young men, creates school unity, and positively impacts the morale of the larger school community.”

Lawrence Central High School’s most recent football head coach, Will Patterson, joined the Butler University football program’s coaching staff this past January. Patterson was Lawrence Central’s head coach for the past six seasons.

“I have known Coach Patterson for over 20 years, and I could not be more excited to have him join our staff,” Butler head coach Kevin Lynch said in a press release at the time of the announcement. “Will is a great leader and mentor and will make a positive impact on our student-athletes each and every day. He will always represent Butler University in a first-class manner, and we are thrilled to have him join our staff ahead of the 2026 season.”

Last year, the Bears finished with a 5-6 overall record, falling to Decatur Central in the sectional finals.