SOUTHFIELD — Only a month in as head coach for Lawrence Technological University football, Scott Merchant turned in an impressive recruiting class to kickstart the 2024 campaign as National Signing Day concluded on Feb. 7.
Published February 21, 2024
It also doesn’t hurt that he gets to continue playing with a close friend in Kedrow, who Crum said he partly recruited to join him at LTU.
“He’s (Kedrow) very excited,” Crum said. “Obviously, it’s his decision, but I was nudging him a little bit saying, ‘We could play together. Do you know how much fun that would be?’”
In addition to their signing day class, LTU named Oscar Olejniczak, who last served as head football coach for Royal Oak Shrine Catholic High School from 2018-2022, as offensive coordinator, and Kyle Nystrom as defensive coordinator.
Nystrom has held many collegiate coaching hats throughout his career, making stops at Central Michigan University, Texas Christian University, Ferris State University, Western Michigan University, Northern Michigan University and, most recently, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Olejniczak coached under Merchant at U of D Jesuit High School when Merchant took over the head coaching position in 1998.
Both men carry an extensive coaching resume and immeasurable knowledge for the game, and Merchant said he’s excited to see what they can bring to the program.
“I’ve known coach O (Olejniczak) for 25 years,” Merchant said. “He’s a great man, great father, and a great coach. He’s done an outstanding job as a high school coach, and also as an FCS offensive coordinator. His experience as a head high school coach and a college coordinator, those are huge things. He’s an outstanding offensive line coach. That’s kind of where everything starts on offense. Coach Nystrom, he’s from one of the first families of football in the state of Michigan. He’s got an amazing resume. He’s coached everywhere from Power Five schools to a bunch of years in the MAC to being a DC at Ferris State with coach (Tony) Annese to being a head coach at Northern Michigan. I feel very blessed to have been able to add those two to our staff.”
The Merchant era of Blue Devils football will begin on Sept. 7 when LTU hosts Mid-States Football Association Midwest League champion Saint Xavier University (Illinois).
Lawrence Tech will return a healthy amount of their roster from 2023 after featuring only seven seniors on the team.
The Blue Devils will look to improve on a 3-7 record in 2023 and usher in a new era of LTU football.
“This whole first class will be really special for all of us on the staff,” Merchant said. “We’re trying to build a foundation of what we want to do with this group, and build on it each year.”
