Welcome to Coaches Confidential, a new Cincinnati Enquirer series for the 2024-2025 fall season that allows football coaches to answer weekly questions anonymously.
This exercise aims to educate parents, athletes and fans, uplift and encourage athletes to be the best they can be, mentor young coaches, idea share and, in some cases, just have fun.
Coaches Confidential, Week 1: ‘You can’t play if you don’t know what you’re doing’
This week’s question: Who is a current Greater Cincinnati high school football coach you respect most, and why?
Here are their answers:
Tom Bolden, Lakota West
“He’s a very close and trusted friend. I know what Tom Bolden is about. He is transparent and doesn’t pull punches. Like Doug Ramsey, he cares about his kids and demands their very best. Although a great coach, Tommy is an even better individual and friend. However, as a coach, he is great at what he does and makes others around him better. I’m a better man for having Tommy as a friend.”
Brian Castner, Mason
“In a climate of recruiting and stockpiling talent, he has decided to do things with integrity and focus on the young men in his community and who come through his hallways. The culture he has built at Mason is what high school football should be about.”
Scott Dattilo, Sycamore
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“In a world where sportsmanship and mentorship often get overshadowed by the pursuit of victory at any cost, Scott Datillo stands as a beacon of integrity and excellence. Representing everything right with high school sports, Coach Datillo is a true teacher on and off the gridiron. He is a mentor, a role model, and a guiding force for countless young athletes. His approach to coaching transcends the mere strategies of the game; he instills in his players values that will serve them throughout their lives. No matter the talent pool, one thing remains constant: Coach Datillo’s teams are always well-coached. His ability to bring out the best in every player, regardless of skill, is a testament to his exceptional coaching abilities. Under his guidance, even the most modestly talented teams have risen to the occasion, playing with heart, determination, and a profound sense of unity. As high school sports evolve, Coach Datillo’s unwavering commitment to integrity, sportsmanship, and personal development remains a shining example for all.”
Tom Grippa, Milford
“When anyone discusses great coaches, Tom Grippa always comes to mind, especially as an offensive coach. Like Doug (Tom’s protégé) and Tommy, he is as good as it gets offensively (albeit Tommy is very different). I have always appreciated competing against Tom when he was at Elder, Fairfield, and La Salle, and have watched what he has done at Milford and just shake my head knowing how good he is at this. As an aside, when Tom left for Mount St. Joseph, I hired his son, Jimmy, as a defensive coach, A ‘chip of the old block,’ Jimmy is as good defensively as Tom is offensively and is doing a tremendous job with the Milford defense. Both are great people who care a lot about kids. Just tremendous human beings.”
Aaron Hancock, Wyoming
“One current coach in the area that I respect is Aaron Hancock. He works each and every day to continue success for a program with rich traditions. An underrated aspect of his coaching is how he continues to push his players to want to win. When teams win and win, they can get complacent. Hancock has developed a culture where winning is a standard and nothing else is expected. He has done a great job of bringing the most out of his players year after year and not allowing them to settle for anything but the best.”
Chad Murphy, Winton Woods
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“For me, this would be Chad Murphy. I have known him for a while now and I have watched what he has been capable of as a coach at the highest level. Winning a state championship and Winton Woods and turning that program into a powerhouse has been great to watch. He gets everything out of his players and kids want to play for Coach Murphy. He is the kind of head coach who players want to play for and coaches want to coach with because he does it for the kids and the love of the game. In my opinion, he does things the right way. “
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“Chad Murphy, because the way he is able to not just lead his team, but lead the whole community he is in. He gets every single person to buy in on his goals for the team. Chad is one of the best motivators I have ever seen and also one of the smartest coaches I have talked ball with.”
Doug Ramsey, Elder
“While Doug’s success speaks for itself (two state championships), I have watched him coach his boys, develop young men of character, and sustain a culture that far exceeds the playing field. A wonderful offensive tactician, Doug does things the right way and has never cheated the system. Elder High School has been blessed to have him for the past 25-plus years.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Coaches Confidential: Who are the most respected football coaches?
