CINCINNATI — While football season is still a few months away, the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association is celebrating its newest hall of fame class this weekend. Including the first Cincinnati-area coach inducted since 2012.
What You Need To Know
- Andy Olds is one of six Ohio high school football coaches being inducted into the Ohio High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame this year
- Olds was head coach at Kings High School for 21 seasons, tallying over 170 wins
- Olds retired in 2018 but is still the director of football operations for the Anthony Muñoz Foundation football academy
- Olds says he's most proud of the way his teams brought together the community
Andy Olds is still a coach at heart. The Kings Football head coach of 21 years retired after the 2018 season.
And after amassing over 170 wins and 14 playoff appearances, he’s getting recognized this year for his achievements. Olds will be one of six Ohio coaches inducted into the 2024 Ohio High School Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.
“Awards like that are only achieved through a lot of people," Olds said. "There's so many people in my life. I've done it for 39 years now. There's a lot of people I can give credit to.”
While Olds is retired and now living in Georgia, he’s still the director of football operations for the Anthony Muñoz Football Academy.
Which is where he spends his week before being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“You get a little rusty," Olds said. "So it’s good to be back. These guys make me feel young.”
Which means putting his coaching hat back on.
“Hustle guys, don’t walk!" Olds told campers. "Nobody’s allowed to walk, c’mon!”
Coaching third through eighth grade boys and girls not only about the game of football but also teaching the coaches how to make a lasting impact.
“A seven-year-old coming to this stadium, it's big time," Olds told the coaches before the campers arrived. "You know what? You're the coach. They don't know where you have coached. They don't know your history. They just know you're in a coach and you're in charge.”
Which is what Olds has been able to do throughout his career.
“My emotional inbox is full and overflowing," Olds said. "I've already cried three times this week, and it's not even Friday yet.”
Olds is overcome with the support from past players, mentors and friends who are celebrating his accomplishments this weekend. It’s not the wins he’s most proud of, but the way his team was able to bring the community together.
“Our football program kind of solidified our community and brought us all together," Olds said. "That's one of the reasons why I could never leave Kings to go take another job. The community has been so wonderful for us in that, to this day, the football tradition is still strong. I'm really, really proud, proud of that.”
Six Ohio coaches will be inducted into the Ohio High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday evening in Columbus. They are Dan McSurley of Clinton-Massie, Bob Jacoby of St. Francis DeSales, John Livengood of Norwalk St Paul, Lee Owens of Massillon and Ron Beards of Chaney.