When John Magistro announced that last season would be the end of his nine-year run as Westerville Central High School football coach, he indicated he could keep the door open for another opportunity.
That opportunity will come at Olentangy, where he will be an assistant coach in charge of linebackers.
Head coach Mark Solis announced Magistro’s hire, which is pending school board approval, on his Twitter account Jan. 30.
“I guess we did a good job recruiting him,” Solis said. “John and I have developed a great professional relationship the last five years and I have the utmost respect for him. He lives in our community and he has grandchildren in (Olentangy schools). Other teams wanted him as well, but I guess we had a good enough pitch to bring him here.
“I’m excited for our kids to work with a guy with that much experience, that caliber who can teach us so much.”
Excited to announce!!! Pending official board approval, Coaches Dunkelberger, Magistro & Chirpas will be joining the@OHSBravesFB family in 2018!!#theyhavesomegearpic.twitter.com/rSHfDaU8Bs
— Mark Solis (@solisbravesfb)January 31, 2018In Magistro’s tenure with the Warhawks, he went 61-37, was named an OCC Coach of the Year three times and shared state Coach of the Year honors in 2011 with Findlay’s Mark Ritzler.
Olentangy defeated Central each of the past two years in OCC-Buckeye Division games.
The Braves went 8-4 last season, losing to Toledo Whitmer 32-29 in a Division I, Region 2 semifinal. The Warhawks went 4-6 and now are coached by former assistant Brent Morrison.
Magistro is one of three former Central coaches joining Solis’ staff, along with Jeremy Chirpas and Dave Dunkelberger. Chirpas, who is Magistro’s son-in-law, will coach the defensive line and Dunkelberger will work with defensive backs.
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