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Mike Padgett has had the good fortune of coaching in seven state football championship games and coming out on top five times with the Central Catholic Fighting Irish program.

Padgett has been a fixture in the Central Catholic athletic department for 43 years.

Now the school’s associate athletic director, a role he has held since 2000, Padgett also is the former boys basketball coach and an assistant football coach for the Irish.

Padgett, who got his start at Genoa High School, helped lead Central to state titles in football in 2005, 2012, 2014, 2022, and 2023. He also led the Irish to two district basketball championships (1997 and 1999).

Padgett, who has been a teacher, coach, and assoc

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