One of the most decorated head football coaches in Greater Cincinnati history is returning to the area.
John Rodenberg, who led Moeller to back-to-back Division I state championships in 2012-2013 and led Covington Catholic to a state title in 2006, has been named the next head coach at Indian Hill. Rodenberg informed his players at Indianapolis Roncalli Monday morning.
He was 25-2 in two seasons there, including winning his fourth state title, the 4A crown in Indiana in 2020.
"My wife and I were looking to get back," Rodenberg said. "We didn't have a timetable, but the opportunity arose. I felt like it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up right now. I wasn't looking but I wasn't going to pass up a great opportunity."
Indian Hill athletic director Brian Phelps announced the news on Twitter Monday morning when Indian Hill's players were informed.
"Coach Rodenberg has developed student leaders on the football field within elite programs for nearly 30 years," a press release said. "His accolades include four state championship teams, multiple NFL players (Sam Hubbard and Kevin Huber), more than 30 NCAA Division I, II and III scholarship players, multiple all-state performers and he has been recognized as the Cincinnati Bengals coach of the week five times."
By phone Monday, Phelps said the process began in November when a colleague mentioned Rodenberg. After an initial meeting in December, things heated up after the new year.
"Within the last weeks it really ramped up," Phelps said.
The process was as secretive as possible as Phelps wanted to give respect to Rodenberg's players in Indianapolis.
Rodenberg began his football coaching career at McNicholas High School, where he served as the head coach from 1994-2004. He won his first state title with Covington Catholic and had an 80-41 record with four GCL-South championships over 10 seasons at Moeller along with a pair of DI state titles.
"Coach Rodenberg led my teammates and I to back-to-back state championships while at Moeller High School," Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard said. "He is a great man and one of my favorite coaches I have come across throughout my career."
More:How a game of gym-class handball helped Moeller grad Sam Hubbard end the Bengals' drought
Rodenberg was the head coach at Lawrence Central in Indiana from 2018-2019 and spent the last two seasons at Indianapolis Roncalli, capturing a 4A state championship in 2020. Last season, Roncalli went 12-1 and reached the regional title game.
"I'm thrilled to be a Brave," Rodenberg said via the release. "The Cincinnati Hills League is competitive and I can't wait to get the process started of growing our student-athletes to be the very best they can be within our program. We will hit the ground running and elevate the program to the elite level our community expects and deserves."
Rodenberg will be introduced to the team in a meet and greet at Indian Hill High School on Feb. 5, according to the press release.
"Hopefully I can get to a place where I can stay awhile," Rodenberg said. "When I was at Moeller, you've got to beat (St.) X. When I was here I had to beat (Bishop) Chatard, now I've got to beat Wyoming. I've done it before, we'll see if I can do it again."
Wyoming has won or shared 10 CHL titles since 2010 and hasn't lost a league game since 2015. Indian Hill won in 2015 (the last year they beat Wyoming) and shared in 2020.
Rodenberg replaces Tony Arcuri, who was 64-22 over the last eight seasons. Arcuri was the CHL coach of the year in 2020 and led the Braves to the playoffs six straight times from 2015-2020. Indian Hill and Arcuri parted ways in November.
"They've got tradition, they've won before," Rodenberg said. "We'll see if I can get'em going, get'em in the right direction and win some more."
Rodenberg plans to finish out the year at Roncalli and will be looking to move back to Cincinnati in the meantime.
Said Phelps, "We're not in a complete rebuild or anything like that. We've got a good solid program and we're ready to take it to the next level. He's got four (state titles), we're going for five no doubt!"
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