As the 2021-2022 school year begins, here are the latest athletic director transactions and travels from the past year, starting with the most recent.
Please note: Cincinnati Public Schools is currently interviewing for the athletic director opening at Spencer Center.
Williams made history in January 2021 after being named the first Black female athletic director in the history of the Cincinnati Public School system. After serving as an assistant to Jonas Smith, Williams took over the top spot when Smith became the athletic director at Trotwood-Madison.
The 1984 Withrow grad is a member of the Withrow and Cincinnati Public Schools athletic halls of fame for basketball. After her career at Withrow, she played at the University of Cincinnati from 1985-89. Her No. 20 Withrow jersey is retired unless she chooses to wear it to motivate future Tigers.
"For our kids to see someone that looks like them, used to be them, to give them hope; it gives me hope that they can make something of their lives," Williams said
More: 'God was just saving that spot for me.' CPS names Regina Williams 1st-ever Black female AD
Eric Taylor Eric Taylor is the new Kings athletic director, taking over for Tyler Miller. Taylor received his position in April. Previously Taylor was the athletic director at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy where he had been a highly successful football coach. He left briefly to become AD/football coach at Deer Park before returning to CHCA as the full-time athletic director.
Bryan Fetzer Fetzer takes over for Taylor as CHCA's AD. Fetzer is a graduate of Lakota High School and has 25 years of experience in NCAA institutions.
“I’m excited to tackle the challenges of leading and building on the current successes of the athletic department at CHCA. It’s our responsibility to be incredible ambassadors for CHCA and Christ," he said in the news release. "We will be committed to excellence in every aspect: from facilities enhancements and assisting in coaches’ education and development, to implementing a comprehensive sport development program, and raising the awareness of CHCA in the city, state and nation.”
More: Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy taps Bryan Fetzer to lead the athletic department
Justin Bayer Moeller went out-of-the-box in May by hiring 1997 graduate Justin Bayer, who had built a highly successful business and had fundraising experience. Bayer launched Welcome to College in 2010, a business designed to help institutions in recruitment and enrollment. He started in Dayton then relocated to New Orleans in 2015. Bayer returned home from the Bayou for this job.
"The minute I saw the job description, I couldn’t think of another opportunity that matches my professional experiences, natural aptitudes and passions," Bayer said. "I’m honored to work alongside a committed administration team who is focused on making Moeller the best high school in the country, humbled to be the next leader of a proud legacy of impacting the lives of past, current, and future Men of Moeller, and incredibly excited to continue to build a championship culture."
Bayer replaces Mike Asbeck.
More: Latest Moeller athletic director comes from business world
Melissa Harvey Harvey took over at Hamilton in March after the resignation of Bill Stewart. According to a press release, Harvey, a 1987 Hamilton grad, has served as the Hamilton High School Freshman Campus athletic director for the past 15 years. She has also taught health and the "Fit for Life" physical education course. She coached multiple sports throughout her nearly 30 years in Hamilton City Schools.
Larry Cox Cox takes over at Edgewood after recently being the executive director of athletics at Urbana. Urbana University, a Division III institution, closed in spring 2020.
The long-time coach and administrator also was a college basketball coach at both Mount St. Joseph and Thomas More universities.
More: Edgewood names longtime coach Larry Cox as its new athletic director
Chuck Richardson Richardson took over at Norwood in April after serving as an assistant to Jonas Smith at Trotwood-Madison. He previously was athletic director at Western Hills and also served in the athletic department at Taft.
Richardson takes over for Alex Heinz, who moved to Wisconsin.
Evan Shepherd Shepherd took over as Bethel-Tate's athletic director after serving as director of operations for Northern Kentucky University's BB&T Arena. Shepherd is from Bethel and graduated from Shawnee State.
Torry Cornett Former University of Cincinnati linebacker Torry Cornett is the new athletic director at DePaul Cristo Rey as of late July. Cornett replaces Lynne Morris who retired.
He has coaching and administrative experience at Rio Grande College, Mount St. Joseph, UC and with the Cincinnati Achievement Academy.
More: DePaul Cristo Rey names former UC football standout Torry Cornett as athletic director
Payden Hinkle Hinkle has taken over at Calvary Christian School. He is a newly minted 2021 graduate of Northern Kentucky University, where he majored in communication studies with a minor in journalism. He worked as an assistant athletic director at Calvary Christian during the past four years under Jeremy Leach, who left after five years in the position.
Bishop Brossart trio Kevin Bundy, who was also the head girls basketball coach at Brossart, departed in the spring to Mason County High School. He is currently being replaced on an interim basis by three men who are veteran coaches and administrators. Chris Holtz just took over as principal at Brossart after six years as an assistant principal there and was previously a teacher and coach at Holy Cross. Rob Braun, the business manager at Brossart, has coached track and cross country there. Ron Verst was the head baseball coach for many years at Brossart and is part of the faculty.
Keaton Belcher Belcher, now the athletic director at Ryle High School, is also the Raiders' boys basketball coach, a position he has held for the past two seasons. Previously, Belcher was head basketball coach at Pendleton County High School, where he mentored 2020 Mr. Basketball and current University of Kentucky player Dontaie Allen.
Belcher, a 2005 Pendleton County graduate, played for a 10th Region champion team there and then played for Belmont University, where he helped the Bruins to three NCAA Tournament berths. He graduated from Belmont with a degree in business administration.
Matt Schneider Schneider takes over at St. Henry for Maureen Kaiser, who had the athletic director job for a year while balancing those duties with her other jobs as teacher and the school's longtime head volleyball coach. Schneider is an Ohio State graduate. .
Semi-recent appointees Colleen O'Brien Dehring O’Brien Dehring, Ursuline Academy class of 1993, began as the Lions' athletic director on July 1, 2020. Colleen has served as assistant athletic director since 2006 and began coaching for the Lions back in 1998. Diane Redmond moves into the assistant AD role after 25 years as athletic director.
Matthew Louis Louis took over at Little Miami for Keith Pantling, who left for Lebanon High School in 2020. He was most recently the assistant athletic director at Middletown, in addition to being special teams coordinator/ outside linebackers coach for the football team. He previously was an athletic director in Springboro and Xenia.
"I am deeply honored and humbled that the leadership of Little Miami Schools has entrusted me to lead the athletic department and the student-athletes of this fine Warren County school district,” Louis said. “Our primary mission will be to provide Panther Nation with the very best resources available, which will allow the development of our students to reach their highest potential as complete student-athletes.”
Keith Pantling Brian Meyer replaced veteran Jim Barre at La Salle, who served as interim AD for a season filling in for Keith Pantling, who left for Little Miami. Pantling moved again to Lebanon High School, recent members of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference.
"As much as the jobs are similar from place to place, the alignment of a school's/district's leadership with your vision for athletics is what's most desirable," Pantling said of job changes. "When you spend as much time as we do trying to move the needle, support and alignment are crucial."
Previous stops: Football assistant for Butch Jones at UC and Tennessee, La Salle and Little Miami.
Drew Schmidt Schmidt returned to his alma mater in 2020 as athletic director for the retiring Rob Heise after serving as baseball coach at St. Henry, Turpin and Anderson and as an assistant AD at Covington Catholic. He was briefly baseball coach at McNicholas in 2020, but the Rockets didn't see the field because of the new coronavirus.
D.J. Dowdy Purcell Marian's athletic director is D.J. Dowdy, a former University of Cincinnati tight end who had been assisting with the Cavaliers football team the last few years. He added the title of football coach in 2020.
Previous stops: Assistant athletic director of DePaul Cristo Rey
Brian Phelps Phelps is back in the Greater Cincinnati fold as he replaced Matt Haskamp at Indian Hill in 2020.
Phelps comes from the Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD) school in Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as the director of athletics. Before arriving in Fort Worth, Phelps spent almost 20 years at The Seven Hills School in Cincinnati.
“Brian Phelps is a proven leader who has developed award-winning and student-centered athletic programs during his robust career,” Indian Hill Superintendent Kirk Koennecke said. “We are incredibly excited to have Mr. Phelps as a member of our Brave team.”
The Enquirer will update this folder as other openings, relocations occur.
