In January 1972, owner R. James Erskine announced George Rodak as the head coach for the Hardhats, a new franchise competing in the Midwest Football League.
[2] They played their home games at Struthers High School in 1972, with renovations to the locker rooms and training facilities costing the team between $8,000 and $10,000 to perform.
[7] The Cleveland Browns of the National Football League sent six contracted players to the Hardhats for their August 5 game against the Lansing All Stars.
[12] Youngstown joined the Mid-Atlantic Football League in 1977, and, after, posting a 9–2 record in the regular season, lost in the championship game.
[19] They remained in the league for the 1978 season,[20] competing in the South High School stadium in Youngstown and coached again by Boggia.