Catheline played at Ursuline, but he’s now coaching at Columbus Watterson

By DAN HINER | October 5, 2018 at 12:08a.m.

By Dan Hiner

It’s been 21 years since Felix Catheline, Bishop Watterson’s defensive line coach, played at Stambaugh Stadium. A 1997 Ursuline graduate, Catheline swapped out his helmet for a headset and will coach against the Irish on Friday.

Catheline was a defensive lineman under former Irish head coach Dick Angle. He eventually received North Coast Athletic Conference honorable mention as a nose tackle at Wooster.

“I haven’t been back to Stambaugh in quite a few years, and just being able to watch my kids that I coach play on the same field I played on back in 1997, it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” Catheline said.

“It’s gonna be a little nostalgic, too, going up the tunnel.”

Catheline returned to Wooster to coach the Fighting Scots in 2006. He was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for one season before returning to high school coaching.

Following his time at Wooster, Catheline coached at a couple schools in Columbus over the past 12 years.

He was worked his way up from South High School’s offensive and defensive line coach to head coach during a five-year stint from 2007-11. From 2012-17, he was the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at West High School before taking the job at Bishop Watterson.

Catheline isn’t the first former Irish player to face Ursuline this season. Akron Hoban head coach Tim Tyrrell beat the Irish 56-28 in Akron in Week 4.

Catheline said several former Ursuline players have joined the coaching thanks to the lessons they learned under Angle.

“All of us have a little bit of coach Angle in us,” Catheline said. “The way he coached us is the way we kinda coach our kids.”

Catheline isn’t taking the Irish lightly.

He said the goal will be to control Ursuline’s running game while buying time for sophomore quarterback Jacob Hoying. The Eagles’ signal caller is the son of former Ohio State quarterback Bobby Hoying.

“[Hoying] is probably one of the best sophomores I’ve ever seen play the position,” Catheline said. “He’s incredibly intelligent, he runs the offense really well.”

Stambaugh Stadium will be the largest venue the Eagles have played in this season, and both teams need a win.

The Irish are winless through six games and Bishop Watterson is 2-4.

Catheline and the Eagles hope a win over Ursuline could help stabilize the Eagles for a second-half run and a potential playoff berth.

“Our message [to the players] as a coaching staff has been, ‘Be ready because Ursuline’s gonna be ready,’” Catheline said.

“I was talking to a buddy of mine, I think it’s been 40 years [or more] since Ursuline’s gone winless in a season. So I know this is a huge matter of pride for them.”