Ohio school reports coach killed in mowing accident

NEW RICHMOND, Ohio (AP) — A southwest Ohio school district reports that a longtime swim coach has died after a mowing accident at his home.

Joe Middeler, 63, had recently completed his 15th season as varsity swim coach for New Richmond Schools. He had been owner-operator of a food market and was a substitute teacher. No other details were released immediately on the accident at his home in the village of Moscow.

WCPO-TV of Cincinnati reports that Middeler helped develop several swimmers who went on to higher-level competition. He was an Army veteran who was inducted into the New Richmond High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a 1970 graduate of the high school east of Cincinnati.