Miamisburg football: Channell resigns as Vikings coach

Steve Channell, who oversaw a dramatic reversal in Miamisburg High School football, has resigned as the Vikings head coach.

Miamisburg athletic director Jason Osborne cited “philosophical differences” in Channell’s surprise departure after seven seasons.

“It was very clear the district was thinking one direction and I was not thinking in the same direction,” Channell said on Friday. “There was a point in time the fit just wasn’t what it needed to be.”

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The position has been posted internally in the Miamisburg City School District and on Thursday was listed on the Ohio High School Athletic Association job openings.

“We’re eager to move forward and see who’s interested,” Osborne said on Friday. “We did not put a timeline or deadline on it. Certainly, these winter months is when we hope to fill the position.”

Miamisburg football hadn’t had a winning season since 2003 in the now-defunct Mid-Miami League when Channell succeeded Tim Lewis in 2012. From 2008-11 the Vikings twice were 1-9 and had just six combined wins.

That immediately changed when Channell switched Miamisburg to a wing-T offense and noticeable defensive upgrade that produced a 7-3 debut season. That signaled the start of Vikings football relevancy that produced four consecutive playoff teams and a combined 52-24 overall record under Channell.

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Miamisburg was 9-2 in 2015, won an outright Greater Western Ohio Conference South title and posted its first playoff win in program history. The Vikings followed with a 10-3 season in 2016 and shared a GWOC National West title.

Miamisburg was 4-6 in 2017, Channell’s only losing team. The Vikings were 7-3 this past season, finishing No. 9 in the final Division I, Region 4 computer rankings. Only the top eight teams advance to the playoffs.

Channell said 37 of his former Vikings played collegiately. That includes current Ohio State University redshirt freshman offensive lineman Josh Myers and Cody Lamb, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman at Cincinnati.

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Channell’s tenure at Miamisburg also coincided with a football switch from historic Harmon Field, which was dedicated in 1923 but land-locked at Jefferson and 7th streets to the spacious 5,000-plus seat Holland Field at the school campus.

“We wish him nothing but the best,” Osborne said. “He’s done very well in wins and losses here at Miamisburg and had a lot of success. We had a good talent pool run through the program in his seven years here. Together, they were able to have a lot of success on the field.”

Channell remains employed full time at the high school, overseeing student reassignments and detention. He also is the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association North vs. South Classic game director.

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Prior to Miamisburg, Channell was a Middletown assistant after 21 seasons as Edgewood’s head coach. Edgewood won 11 conference titles and had 10 playoff teams under Channell and played in the 2003 D-II state championship. His coaching contract was not renewed at Edgewood.

Channell did not rule out a return to coaching.

“The years at Miamisburg were very fulfilling and rewarding, but at this point, it’s better to part ways,” he said. “I’m going to take some time away and see what lies ahead. I’m just trying to get my feet back on the ground.”

Two other GWOC coaches previously resigned after last season, Chris Roark at Fairborn and Aaron Shaffer at Greenville. Neither of those positions has been filled.

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