Days from its season opener, the Walnut Ridge football team has a new coach.
Austin Traylor has replaced Rob Wheelwright, who stepped down after one season, Columbus City Schools chief of staff Mike De Fabbo said Aug. 19.
The Scots, who were unbeaten in the 2024 regular season, open Aug. 22 at home against Cleveland Villa Angela-St Joseph.
The school district and Wheelwright did not disclose a reason for his resignation. He also stepped down as boys track coach at Walnut Ridge and as a substitute teacher in the district.
Wheelwright and Traylor are both Walnut Ridge graduates who played college football at Wisconsin.
“It was not an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right time for both myself and the program,” Wheelwright said. “I’m extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish during my time there – from being first-year division champs to earning Coach of the Year honors in just one season. None of it would’ve been possible without the dedication of the players and coaches. I’m excited for what’s ahead and I’ll always be rooting for Walnut Ridge.”
Wheelwright was named Central District Coach of the Year and state co-Coach of the Year, both for Division II, after leading the Scots to a 10-0 regular season and City League-South title (7-0). Walnut Ridge was the No. 2 seed for the Region 7 playoffs but lost 29-26 to No. 15 Worthington Kilbourne in the first round.
Traylor, 31, is a 2011 graduate who played tight end at Wisconsin. He played in seven games for the Denver Broncos in 2017 after being undrafted in 2016.
In his first coaching position, Traylor served as Walnut Ridge defensive coordinator last season.
“It’s always an honor as a proud Ridge graduate, a student-athlete there, being able to come back to coach,” Traylor said. “The fact that coach Wheelwright brought me on, I was ecstatic to be here. He got me back for another year and circumstances ended up with me being the coach. I’m proud as a brother and friend (of Wheelwright), I support him, and taking over the program after him means a lot to me.
“With how everything happened and played out, timing-wise is not the best circumstance as far as having to switch, so the fact that somebody was on board and on staff came along, that was really the only option that was left.”
Wheelwright spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as offensive coordinator at East, during which time the Tigers went 18-5 with consecutive Division IV, Region 15 playoff appearances. Wheelwright’s half-brother is East head coach Mike Bell.
Before that, Wheelwright coached wide receivers at Ohio Dominican for two seasons.
A 2013 graduate of Walnut Ridge, Wheelwright played wide receiver at Wisconsin. He later played for the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League in 2019.
High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at fdirenna@dispatch.com and at @DispatchFrank on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Rob Wheelwright resigns as Walnut Ridge football coach, Austin Traylor named successor
Reporting by Frank DiRenna, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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