Inselmann resigns after 23 years at Patrick Henry

11/26/2013

Inselmann

THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON
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One of the most successful high school football coaches in northwest Ohio history is calling it quits after 23 seasons.

Patrick Henry’s Bill Inselmann, who posted a 200-64 overall record at his alma mater, has resigned. He guided the Patriots to a 15-0 record and a Division V state championship in 2005.

“I’ve been coaching for 31 years and I decided it’s time to step away, do some other things, and see what that’s like,” said Inselmann, 52, who made the decision along with his wife, Robin, after the season ended. “I had a feeling going into the year that this might be it. We waited a couple weeks after the season was over when everything had died down, and looked at it objectively. We decided this was the right time.”

Inselmann said he will continue teaching at Napoleon High School, where he has been the past 27 years, after spending his first four at Evergreen.

Inselmann was an assistant at Evergreen and Napoleon for four years each before taking the head coaching post at Patrick Henry. The Patriots had finished 0-10 the prior season in 1990.

PH started 0-7 in 1991 before winning its final three games, and Inselman had only two other losing seasons thereafter (4-6 in 1992 and 1995). A 1979 Patrick Henry graduate, Inselmann was the junior quarterback for the Patriots in the school’s first playoff in 1977.

“Having attended Patrick Henry myself has made this coaching experience even more special,” Inselmann said. “I have so many great memories during my time here, and have made many life-long friends. It has been an honor to devote time and energy into the players, the football program, and my hometown community.

“I can’t say enough about the community, the parents, and the administrative support I have had over these past 23 years. This is a very special community and one to be proud of.”

Inselmann and his staff turned the Patriots from a mediocre Northwest Ohio Athletic League team into both a league and state power for almost two decades, closing with 18 straight winning seasons.

The Patriots won 10 league championships, including a run of eight straight titles (2002-2009) and 11 consecutive state playoff appearances (2002-2012). His PH teams earned 14 postseason berths overall.

Patrick Henry advanced as far as the regional final eight times and to the state semifinals four times.

“I was blessed to have had so many good people around me to help make this chapter in my life something that I can reflect on with a positive attitude and revisit so many fond memories,” Inselmann said. “I will truly miss every aspect of my experience, and I will always be a Patriot at heart.

“I would like to give a special thanks to the many football players and assistant coaches who have contributed to the success we have had at Patrick Henry. You are the best, and I wish the future teams and staff the best of luck.”

Contact Steve Junga at: sjunga@theblade.com, or 419-724-6461 or on Twitter@JungaBlade.