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Meadowdale gets new football coach

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By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer 10:37 AM Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Meadowdale High School has turned to one of its own to revive its football program: John Wortham. He has been named to replace longtime Lions coach Bosie Miliner.

Wortham is a 1989 Meadowdale grad who played for former Lions coach Pat Masters. He also was an outstanding quarterback at Earlham College and was an assistant for Miliner for nine seasons.

Wortham was head coach of Ponitz Tech for its first two seasons. Last season Wortham was the quarterbacks coach at Trotwood-Madison. His No. 1 pupil, senior QB Michael Simpson, helped lead the Rams to a 15-0 season and the Division II state championship.

He’ll have a ways to go to compete with Dunbar and Thurgood Marshall for City League supremacy, but that’s his goal. The Lions were 4-6 last season and 13-37 overall the last five years.

“It’s kind of weird, because I’m replacing the guy who hired me,” Wortham said.

“Meadowdale is a sleeping giant and nobody knows about it. There’s talent there. We’re going to cultivate and motivate that talent. We plan on being more competitive, specifically with Dunbar and Thurgood Marshall.”

He is at least the sixth new area head football coach to be named since last season, joining Steve Channell (Miamisburg), Scot Brewer (Troy), Chris Newman (West Carrollton), Dave “Doc” Amlin (Dayton Christian) and Eric Gillespie (Springfield).

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