Carroll football: Rulli resigns after five seasons

Ben Rulli, who guided Carroll High School football to its first winning season since 2010 last fall, resigned as the Patriots’ head coach this week.

A Carroll alum, Rulli will return to Proctor Academy (N.H.) in a senior administrative position and will resume his coaching career in a second stint as Proctor’s head football coach. He stressed this is a move to enhance his educational career.

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“It had to be perfect for me to leave my home,” said Rulli, at 33 the youngest of the four Greater Catholic League Co-Ed North head coaches. “It’s an outstanding opportunity for me that I just couldn’t pass on. It was definitely emotional and a long, thought-out process for me. As hard as it is, it’s the right decision for my career.”

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Rulli is the dean of students at Carroll and also is the boys lacrosse head coach. He succeeded Bob Levy as head football coach at Carroll.

Rulli began his coaching career as Proctor’s head football coach for seven seasons, landing administrative and coaching positons after earning a degree at John Carroll University in Cleveland, where he also played football.

A standout offensive lineman on some great playoff teams for then-coach Steve Bartlett, Rulli was Carroll’s head coach the past five years. The Patriots’ best season was his last, 6-4 following a 4-0 start. That was Carroll’s best since the 2010 team was 7-4 and the Patriots made their last playoff appearance.

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“It’s been a five-year process to get (Carroll football) to this point and I loved every minute of it,” Rulli said. “It was good to be back home. I always felt like I was a little bit ahead of the game for my age. To come home so early, I could check that dream off my personal dreams. Now, I’m chasing another one.”

Carroll was 18-32 overall under Rulli but just 1-14 against GCL North rivals Alter, Chaminade Julienne and Fenwick.

“He is a positive role model for our student athletes and leaves our programs positioned for future success,” said Carroll athletic director Scott Molfenter. “We wish him the best as he pursues professional opportunities in New Hampshire.”

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Rulli’s resignation is the latest of many throughout the area since last season ended. The Greater Western Ohio Conference had coaches resign at Fairborn (Chris Roark), Greenville (Aaron Shaffer), Miamisburg (Steve Channell), Tippecanoe (Joel Derge) and West Carrollton (Derek Hauk).

Three Southwestern Buckeye League teams also will have new coaches following resignations at Carlisle (Mike Brown) and Middletown Madison (Steve Poff). Bob Mullins has been named at Monroe to succeed Brett Stubbs.

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