Pair of Dalton High head coaches step down
Broc Dial, shown addressing his Dalton High football team last summer, recently resigned as DHS head coach. Dial had a .791 winning percentage (68-18), and his teams won or shared five WCAL titles in his seven years and finished this past season as Div. VII state runner-up.
Dalton High School was hit with back-to-back surprises when head coaches of two of its most prominent programs resigned on consecutive days.
Second-year Bulldogs boys basketball coach Justin Greenfelder announced his resignation on Jan. 10, citing a family health situation.
Dalton assistant basketball coach Cody Huth had been filling in for Greenfelder as head coach and will finish the season at the helm.
A much bigger shock occurred the following day when Broc Dial informed the school he was stepping down as the football coach.
Coming off the best season in school history, which ended with a Division VII state runner-up finish, Dial did not give a reason for his decision.
Scott Beatty, Dalton interim superintendent, said both resignations were for personal reasons. Neither coach was forced out or pressured to resign in any way.
“The basketball and football situations are two separate scenarios; however, it is crazy timing to have two of your prominent boys coaching positions open within days of each other,” said Beatty, who’s back as the interim leader of the district in 2023-24 that he previously served nine years as superintendent. “The only similarity or connection is that both were for personal decisions.”
The back-to-back departures have led to a lot of banter and speculation in the village of Dalton and on social media, but Beatty said there are no hidden reasons.
“It is unusual to have a position vacated midseason, but life isn’t built around the high school sports schedule,” Beatty said. “I believe this has led to a lot of the questions.
“We unfortunately live in a time where everything is a conspiracy and everyone is willing to speculate, sometimes to the detriment of those involved. In both of these scenarios, we should allow folks to make decisions, and if they want to share specifics, that is their prerogative and we should honor that.”
Dial was in the midst of one of the most successful stretches in Wayne County Athletic League and area football history.
The Bulldogs have won three straight WCAL titles and this fall became just the third team in league history to reach a state final. Marion Local (16-0) defeated Dalton (13-2) 38-0 in the Div. VII state title game in Canton on Dec. 2.
However, Dial made the tough decision to step down as coach a little over a month later. He has not given a specific reason for the decision.
“I just want to focus on the positive things and focus on what’s important, that Dalton has a great school system and is a great community,” Dial said. “There are lots of really good things going on.
“I want my kids to be a part of it, and I want to continue to teach business at the high school — just really get everything moving forward.”
Dial had a .791 winning percentage (68-18), and his teams won or shared five WCAL titles in his seven years.
“I have memories from those seven years that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life,” Dial said. “I think No. 1 it starts with relationships.
“It’s all about people, no matter what you’re doing. I’m really fortunate to have developed some great relationships with the players, with the coaches, with the parents and community members. And we were fortunate to have some really talented players come through.”
With a sixth-grader at Dalton Middle School and two more kids in the elementary school, Dial will be able to be a more active dad.
“One positive out of this is I’ll spend more time with my kids,” Dial said. “That’s very important to me.”
Dial thanked the many people who have been a part of his tenure and made sure to meet with his team to tell them in person.
“I’m grateful for the kids who have played for me and all the work they did while we were trying to teach them,” Dial said. “I’m also thankful for the parents’ support, and the community has been tremendous.
“I just thought (by resigning now) the school would be able to get the best person in and that way the kids can get the best coach they can for next year. They deserve it.”
Beatty said he and other Dalton administrators were fully planning on Dial returning as the football coach, but he respects the decision.
“Making it to the state final is one of those plateaus you never imagine achieving in some programs, but (Dial’s) team was able to accomplish that,” Beatty said. “Dalton has been fortunate to have a history of successful (football) coaches, and Broc is now a part of that rich tradition. It will allow for the program to attract excellent candidates whenever the post is vacated.”
Greenfelder led Dalton to a Div. IV district basketball title last season, the Bulldogs’ first since 2002. Dalton has a 4-5 (4-2 WCAL) mark this season including 3-2 since Huth took over.
Dalton has posted its football coach opening. Interested candidates should include a resume, cover letter and references and send to sbeatty@daltonlocal.org, addressed to Mr. Scott Beatty, Dalton Local Schools, 177 N. Mill St., Dalton, OH 44618.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at AaronDorksen24@gmail.com.