Flyers’ football staff a big hit among many area high school coaches

Jay Minton joining the University of Dayton football coaching staff is just the latest in a long and distinguished jump by area head football coaches to the Flyers’ program.

UD coach Rick Chamberlin announced last week that Minton will join the Flyers as a tight ends coach for this coming season. Minton was Wayne High School’s ultra-successful head football coach the previous 21 seasons. The Warriors became an elite Division I program in that span, finishing as state runner-up four times and producing many outstanding players.

“I am extremely excited to be part of a great program with such rich traditions,” Minton texted. “Coach Chamberlin and his staff are absolutely first class in everything they do. I can never thank Coach Chamberlin enough for allowing me to be a part of the Flyer football family.”

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Minton has joined a Flyers’ staff that includes former Fairmont head coach Andy Aracri, who’s in his third season as a UD assistant (defensive tackles), and former Carroll coach Mark Ewald, in his sixth (running backs).

Other former high school area head football coaches who then joined the Flyers’ staff over the years include Jim Spoerl (Carroll), Howard Sales (Oakwood), Lowell Vorpe (Fairmont West), Jim Ladd (Trotwood-Madison), Dick Hoppe (Fairmont West), Dave Carey (Bethel) and Don Green (Greeneview).

Jim McDermott (Belmont) and Bosie Miliner (Meadowdale) were Flyers assistants on the 1989 UD team that won an NCAA Division III national championship.

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Craig Turner (Brookville, Arcanum) retired after last season following a 20-year run as a Flyers assistant coach.

Just as impressive, former Flyers assistants went on to be high school head coaches. That includes Jason Schondelmyer (Arcanum, Tri-Village, Twin Valley South, Versailles) and Rodney Roberts (Centerville, Springboro, Franklin), who played for the Flyers and was a graduate assistant on the UD coaching staff.

Nic Black (Beavercreek, Graham) and former Flyers defensive back Marcus Colvin (Chaminade Julienne) remain head coaches at their respective high school programs.

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Rick Robertson (Fairmont, Springfield North, Oakwood) has joined Tippecanoe’s staff as offensive coordinator for this season. He was introduced to area football as a Flyers assistant from 1981-83 under former UD head coach Mike Kelly. In Robertson’s first season with the Flyers, UD lost to Widener in the NCAA D-III national championship Stagg Bowl.

Kelly, a Milton-Union grad, began his coaching career as a high school assistant in Indiana. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011 after a 27-season run as the Flyers’ head coach.

Chamberlin is a Springfield North grad. His entire collegiate playing and coaching career has been with the Flyers. This will be his 12th season as UD’s head coach.

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Many collegiate and NFL coaches had their start in coaching high school football. Earle Bruce has a distinguished place among former Ohio State head football coaches. At Massillon (Washington), he’ll always be fondly remembered as a Tiger (1964-65).

Former Middletown offensive innovator Glenn “Tiger” Ellison finished his coaching career as a Buckeyes assistant. He’s credited as the creator of the run-and-shoot offense. The popular spread offense has its roots in Ellison’s vision for offense.

Minton resigned as Wayne’s football coach last month and was succeeded by Roosevelt Mukes, a promoted Warriors assistant. That was part of a Wayne athletics reboot that also saw former Yellow Springs High School athletic director Nate Baker succeed Minton as the Warriors’ AD. Minton remains a middle school physical education teacher in the Huber Heights City School District.

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That’s a win-win-win for Minton. He keeps his teaching job, remains in football and doesn’t have to move. The Flyers, 6-5 last season, open this season at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Indiana State in Terre Haute.

• The Newton High School hall of fame committee recently announced its third annual class. Set to be inducted are Charles Price (boys basketball coach from 1954-59), Kirk Kadel (softball coach from 1998-2015, 400-plus career wins, 2010 D-IV state champs), Ray “Butch” Shook (1968 grad who still holds the basketball record for most assists in a game at 17) and the 1968-69 boys basketball team.

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That 1968-69 boys hoop team (20-3) had Louis Haubner as the head coach and Gary Grove an assistant. Team members were Dave Thompson, Joe Deeter, Doug Netzley, Tom Tilton, Sam Roetter, Doug Christian, Ned Diers, Jack Coate, Jim Weaver, Dave Bradley and Gary Sleppy.

An induction banquet and ceremony will be held at the Pleasant Hill campus on Saturday, Jan. 11.

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