Cincinnati Country Day AD and football coach Dennis Coyle steps down

TL;DR

Dennis Coyle steps down as athletic director and head football coach at Cincinnati Country Day after seven years. He will take on a new role as athletic director at Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, starting June 1.

Key points

Dennis Coyle steps down after seven years at Cincinnati Country Day
He will become athletic director at Notre Dame Preparatory High School
Coyle's last day at Cincinnati Country Day is June 1

Mentioned in this story

Cincinnati Country DayNotre Dame Preparatory High SchoolDennis Coyle

Cincinnati Country Day will be seeking a new athletic director and football coach for the 2026-2027 season.

After seven years as the athletic director and head football coach for the Nighthawks, Dennis Coyle has accepted a position as athletic director of Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. Coyle will end his term at Cincinnati Country Day on June 1.

"Returning to a Catholic school environment is especially meaningful to me," Coyle said in statement to The Enquirer, "and I am excited to be part of a program that values faith, character, and the development of young people."

Notre Dame Prep is a private Catholic co-educational high school with just shy of 1,000 students. Among its notable alumni are Major League Baseball pitcher Tayler Scott, RuPaul's Drag Race star Kade "Gottmik" Gottlieb, and Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk.

Though the new role was a natural fit for Coyle, he expressed the decision was still a difficult one.

"While I am excited about this new opportunity, it is not easy to leave my current team," Coyle said. "The bond between a coach and his players is special, and I am deeply thankful for the relationships built with the young men and women I have had the privilege to coach."

Cincinnati Country Day football coach and athletic director Dennis Coyle is stepping down on June 1, 2026.

Coyle won five consecutive Miami Valley Conference Gray Division championships from 2021 to 2025, going 22-0 in conference play during that stretch. The Enquirer's Division VII coach of the year in 2022 and 2025 led the Nighthawks to five straight playoff appearances.

Cincinnati Country Day will immediately begin a search for its next athletic director and head coach, per a release from the school.

Q&A

Why did Dennis Coyle leave Cincinnati Country Day?

Dennis Coyle accepted a position as athletic director at Notre Dame Preparatory High School, citing a meaningful return to a Catholic school environment.

When will Dennis Coyle officially leave his position?

Dennis Coyle will end his term at Cincinnati Country Day on June 1.

What is Notre Dame Preparatory High School known for?

Notre Dame Preparatory High School is a private Catholic co-educational school with notable alumni, including MLB pitcher Tayler Scott and *RuPaul's Drag Race* star Kade Gottlieb.