LOUDONVILLE — For the fourth time in the last decade, Loudonville has had the head coach of its football program step down after three seasons.
On Monday, John Battaglia’s resignation was accepted by the Loudonville Board of Education.
A longtime teacher in the Loudonville school system, Battaglia was 11-21 overall during his three seasons, a tenure highlighted by a 7-5 campaign in 2022.
The Redbirds finished 2023 with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-5 mark in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference (sixth place). Six of their losses came to playoff-qualifying teams.
“We appreciate all of Coach Battaglia’s contributions to our Redbird athletic program,” Loudonville Supt. Jennifer Allerding said. “As we move forward, we will work diligently to seek a new coach who shares our educational vision and is dedicated to nurturing a culture of respect, integrity, and teamwork within our football program.
“We extend our gratitude to Coach Battaglia for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Battaglia served as an assistant coach on the staffs of former LHS head coaches Rick Rios (2015-17) and Kevin Maltarich (2018-20) before taking over the program.
He said stepping away from the job now made sense for him.
“It just felt like it was the right time for me to focus on some other things,” Battaglia said.
“I think they’ve got a great opportunity to continue to be successful,” he added of the returning Redbirds. “Playing in the KMAC for the last couple years, it’s a really good conference and it’s always going to be tough in football.
“I think (Loudonville has) got some good classes coming through.”
The Redbirds featured a pair of KMAC first-team players last fall in seniors Matt Sprang and Baylor Weiser, while Cam Beachy and Aidan Neibert were second-team picks and Zane Rossey was honorable mention.
Sprang was the team’s quarterback, finishing second in the league in passing (1,457 yards, 13 touchdowns) while also leading LHS in rushing (776 yards, 9 touchdowns).
Weiser and Beachy, also a senior, were the team’s top receiving threats — both collecting more than 400 yards — while Weiser finished second in the league in tackles (130) at linebacker.
It was a season of extremes for Loudonville, as only one of the team’s games was decided by fewer than 14 points.
The Redbirds won their season-opener for the first time since 2014 when they knocked off playoff qualifier Mapleton, 35-20, but they allowed at least 28 points in all seven of their losses.
Battaglia felt the team had a talented nucleus of seniors, but added that it was a season of learning for a team with many underclassmen contributors.
“A lot of younger guys got some really good experience last year and I think that’s something those guys can build on in the future,” he said.
Battaglia said the 2022 season was one he’ll remember. That team’s 7-5 mark represented the only winning record for the program since a three-year run under former head coach Justin Todd, whose 30-6 record was capped in 2014 by a 12-1 finish and a No. 2 ranking in the final Division VI state poll.
Beating Ashland County rival Hillsdale (14-0), clinching a home playoff game and winning a playoff game (40-7 over Rock Hill) all were highlights Battaglia noted about 2022. LHS finished 6-1 at home that year.
“It was a great experience working with some hard-nosed, tough kids who put in a lot of time working towards those goals,” he said.
It also was Loudonville’s first year competing in the KMAC after five rough seasons in the larger Principals Athletic Conference (combined 6-28 record in the PAC during that time).
The Redbirds were 1-9 in Battaglia’s first season in 2021.
It was his first head coaching job in football. He had been an assistant coach at his alma mater, the College of Wooster, before joining Rios’ staff at Loudonville.
“I learned a lot from it, had a great time, loved working with the kids,” Battaglia said.
Loudonville has one of the richest football histories in the Ashland area. The Redbirds have 11 playoff appearances, trailing only Ashland (13) in the county.
They are the only team in the county with a winning record in the postseason (12-11) and the only one to appear in a state championship game (runner-up in 1990). Loudonville also appeared in the Final Four in 1983 and 1988.
