The Batavia High School Athletic Department has hired the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator, Steve Dahlheimer, as the new head coach of the football program.
Dahlheimer has been the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator for the past three seasons.
“Coach Dahlheimer is a highly motivated coach who demonstrates leadership both on and off the field. He is a disciplined coach with a strong work ethic who constantly strives to improve his players and himself,” said athletic director Mark Pierson in a press release. “Coach Dahlheimer’s vast range of knowledge stems from many years coaching as both an assistant coach and as a head coach. Throughout his career, Coach Dahlheimer has coached every position in the game and understands them thoroughly. He works well with community stakeholders and manages players in a positive manner.”
He has been an assistant coach since 2010 with stops at Amelia (2010-2012), Clermont Northeastern (2013), Dixie Heights (2015-2018), Turpin (2019), Fayetteville-Perry (2021-2022), and Batavia (2023-2025). He was also the head coach at Bethel-Tate (2007).
“As the new Bulldogs head coach, Coach Dahlheimer brings a familiarity to the Bulldogs football program, as well as some continuity for the student-athletes. Coach Dahlheimer has a transformational coaching style focusing on discipline, growth, positivity, and leadership,” Pierson wrote. “We are excited for Coach Dahlheimer to be the leader of the Batavia Football Program this fall. We feel that he brings great football knowledge, discipline, energy, and positivity to our student-athletes and community.”
Batavia has been looking to replace former head coach Wayne Stacy, who stepped down in November after four seasons at the helm. He went 4-6 in 2025 following an 8-3 season in 2024. His first two seasons resulted in a combined 4-16 record.
Batavia had announced the hire of Frank Russell as the next head coach in December, introducing him to the local community on Dec. 17. Russell had resigned at Lima’s Bath High School earlier that same month after leading Bath to its best season this millennium. Bath went 9-3 and reached the regional semifinals in Division IV.
Russell told the Enquirer that he originally took the Batavia job to coach with his son. His son still lived in the Cincinnati area and was a graduate of Wilmington High School, making Batavia geographically ideal for a return to home. His son, however, received another job offer out of town, which he couldn’t pass up. With the family reunion scuttled, Russell had to rethink his decision. After a historic season with Bath, he felt it was the right decision to head back north.
“I’ve been building a program for three years,” Russell said. “It just felt right to return to Bath.”
Russell made sure to note that the move was not a condemnation of Batavia’s team or administration.
“Batavia has great kids, a great administration, and a great school,” Russell said.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Batavia hires a familiar face to lead the football program
Reporting by Melanie Laughman, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
