PREP FOOTBALL Boardman names Ogilvie new coach

The Spartan graduate has been head coach at United for six years.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- He nearly gained a coaching job and lost a wife in one phone call.
D.J. Ogilvie was telephoned over the weekend by Don Dailey, superintendent of schools in Boardman, and was told he would be recommended as the next Spartan football coach.
Monday night the Boardman board of education hired Ogilvie in a unanimous vote.
"My wife and I were on pins and needles all weekend," Ogilvie said of the anticipation, waiting for his important call.
"Then Mr. Dailey called and I almost broke her neck with a great big hug."
Ogilvie graduated from Boardman in 1987 and attended Bowling Green State University, where he lettered four years as an outside linebacker.
After gaining 12 years of prep coaching experience, including the last six as the head coach at United High, he applied for the Boardman opening.
Lifelong goal
"When I left Boardman in 1987 and went to play in college, my lifelong goal was to come back to coach Boardman on Friday nights," he said.
Along the way he married 10 years ago, fathered three children, and took a teaching position at United.
"I believe in Maroon and White; I'm a Spartan," Ogilvie said. "Our kids are going to have the same positive experience that I did."
Boardman went 17-3 during his final two seasons playing there and it helped to instill the Spartan spirit that has become so much a part of his fabric.
Happy for time at United
"I was very fortunate to coach at United six years," he said. "This is the only place I would think about leaving United for."
At United, which was the smallest Division IV football school, enrollment-wise, in Ohio, he expected about 50-60 players to report to drills. At Boardman there could be as many as 100.
But the larger numbers should just translate to more assistant coaches.
"As [Ohio State] coach [Jim] Tressel always says, football is just blocking and tackling," he said. "If you treat people right, it's the same if you have 50 or 100 kids."
The Ogilvie household should be quite busy in the next several weeks. Two math teachers will retire at Boardman soon and Ogilvie will apply for one of the vacancies.
His wife teaches at United Middle School and she, too, could be seeking work in Boardman. And, the family could be moving to the district.
To meet with assistants
He plans to meet with the assistant coaches and current players soon.
"I want to surround us with great assistant coaches," he said.
Also, Ogilvie will soon get together with Garry Smith, the outgoing Boardman football coach.
Ogilvie played football and baseball for Smith who also taught him.
"I have nothing but respect for Mr. Smith," Ogilvie said.
The vacancy drew 26 applications, including three from within the Boardman district. Fifteen candidates were interviewed.
sullivan@vindy.com