LOUDONVILLE — Ed Honabarger is returning to the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, but he won’t be wearing the Blue and White of the Danville Blue Devils.
A Danville coaching icon, Honabarger was introduced as Loudonville’s new football coach and assistant principal Friday afternoon. He succeeds John Battaglia, who recently stepped down after three seasons.
“The job just sort of popped open. I interviewed for the position and I guess you could say the rest is history,” Honabarger said Friday afternoon. “Loudonville has good, hard-working kids, they always have. They have good community backing.
“That is what I was used to in my years at Danville. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be a head football coach again.”
Loudonville administrators called off the search once Honabarger showed interest in the opening.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ed to the team. His expertise in football and school administration are exciting for our district and our students,” Loudonville superintendent Jennifer Allerding said in a release.
“Our Redbird football team is a staple on our community and I am looking forward to the excitement of Friday nights this fall.”
Allerding also announced two other hires in the athletic department on Friday.
Chad Spurlock takes over as the new athletic director for the outgoing Tyler Bates, who accepted the job as the girls basketball coach at Strasburg.
In addition, Daryl Young is taking over for Bates as the new girls basketball head coach. The Redbirds reached the Final Four in March for the first time since the 1992 season.
On the football field, Honabarger was the head coach at Danville for 16 seasons, first from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2010 to 2019. He was 132-60 and led the Blue Devils to regional championships in 1999, 2004, 2015 and 2017. Danville qualified for the playoffs 12 times during his tenure.
He stepped down after the 2019 season and Danville’s field house, which houses the weight room, was named in his honor in the spring of 2020. Honabarger led the fundraising efforts to build the facility after Danville’s first state semifinal appearance in 1999. The building opened in 2001.
For the past four years, Honabarger has been an assistant at West Holmes. He helped the Knights reach the Division III state semifinals in 2021 and the Division IV regional semifinals each of the past two seasons.
“I wanted to have one more run as a head coach,” Honabarger said. “It needed to be someplace local. I live in Apple Valley and I wasn’t going to uproot my wife or anything like that.”
Danville and Loudonville are separated by about 15 miles. The communities have plenty in common, Honabarger said.
“People in both communities support their school tremendously. They like to see hard work and they want to see the kids be disciplined and take pride in their work,” Honabarger said. “The small-town values, that is what it comes down to. That is what the people want and that is what they expect.
“The majority of my life has been small-town and small-school football. That’s what I love and I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”
Loudonville joined the KMAC as a football-only member in 2022 and will be a full member starting this fall. The Redbirds were 11-21 in three seasons under Battaglia, reaching the second round of the playoffs in 2022.
Loudonville is one of only a handful of north central Ohio teams to boast a winning postseason record. The Redbirds are 12-11 in the playoffs and reached the Division IV state championship game in 1990.
The Redbirds will play at Danville in Week 6 this fall. Honabarger isn’t sure what the reunion will look like.
“Especially since my name is on the field house,” Honabarger joked. “They may cover my name with a blanket that night.
“I’ve got a lot friends down there.”
As far as guiding the athletic department, Allerding said Spurlock assumes the role of Athletic Director with extensive experience in educational leadership and athletic administration.
Spurlock’s tenure as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Kingsway Christian School in Orrville, coupled with his previous role as an Athletic Administrator and Dean of Students at Green Local School District in Smithville, demonstrates his commitment to promoting excellence in the classroom and on the field.
“We are looking forward to next school year and our fall athletic season under Spurlock’s leadership,” Allerding asid. “His experience and passion for athletics were apparent throughout his interview process and we are excited to welcome him into our Redbird community.”
Allerding said Young brings an impressive track record of success. His 12- year coaching journey spans from guiding teams to Arizona state championships to nurturing athletes’ growth on and off the court.
His athletic resume also boasts accolades, such as the Ashland Times-Gazette Girls Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
“Daryl is an experienced coach with a successful record in leading basketball teams,” Allerding said.
“Our girls had an incredible season this year and are excited to see what next season will bring under Coach Young.”