Pending board approval, MHS has new football coach

Marysville High School, upon approval by the district’s board of education, has a new head football coach.

Athletic director Joey Day announced late Tuesday that Chase Longwell will step into the position that was vacated in December.

That’s when long-time head coach Brent Johnson announced his retirement.

Longwell comes to Marysville after serving as the co-offensive coordinator at Hilliard Darby High School. He held that position since 2020.

He was also the run game coordinator/quarterbacks coach and head junior varsity coach at Darby, beginning in 2017.

Longwell’s other coaching experience includes assistant quarterbacks coach at Capital University from 2014-2016 and assistant baseball coach at Hilliard Darby from 2016-2021.

Longwell was one of 17 applicants for the Marysville gridiron position.

He was among six candidates who were brought in by district officials for interviews.

“Chase has a proven track record of developing student/athletes with an authentic approach for building strong relationships through his time as a coach,” said Day.

“His enthusiastic and energetic demeanor, along with a clear and thorough plan for program development – emphasizing strong character, discipline, community involvement and impacting student/athletics on and off the field – are a few of the many reasons we believe he is a great fit for Marysville.”

“I’m excited about coming to Marysville,” said Longwell, who played his high school football at Hilliard Darby.

“Growing up in central Ohio and just down the road here in Hilliard, there’s always been something about Marysville.

“There has always been that toughness, hard work and discipline involved with Marysville High School football,” he said. “The Marysville community has always been very supportive (of its athletic programs).”

Longwell is a science teacher and lives in Hilliard with his wife Kelsey (a teacher in the Upper Arlington school system) and their two young children.

It is the family’s goal to relocate to Marysville at some point.

“I look forward to getting our family involved in the Marysville community,” said Longwell.

At the present time, there are no teaching positions available in the Marysville school district.

“It’s fluid situation at this time,” said Longwell.  “It may be a situation where I stay and teach in Hilliard for a year… depending on what happens to the Marysville operating levy in May.

“I hope the levy passes and I can start teaching in Marysville in the fall.”

Longwell said he will begin off-season workouts with the Monarchs as soon as possible after the board of education approves his hiring.

“That can’t come soon enough,” he said.