Veteran leads Irish on another title run

Like a good wine, the coaching success of Central Catholic’s Greg Dempsey has gotten better as he has aged.

When his 14-0 Fighting Irish, Ohio’s top-ranked Division III team, travel to Elyria on Friday to face Chardon (11-3) in a state playoff semifinal, they will be looking to reach the program’s sixth state championship game and extend their winning streak to 30 games.

After winning last year’s Division II state title, the school’s fourth state crown, the Irish returned starters to eight of 22 positions from that team. And, in 2023, they took on the toughest schedule in program history while competing for the first time in the Michigan-based Catholic High School League.

Although many would suggest Central Catholic’s dynamic football operation simply reloads from year to year instead of having to rebuild, the uninterrupted success of his team makes Dempsey, 51, our choice as The Blade’s 2023 coach of the year.

Also considered for the honor was Whiteford’s second-year coach Todd Thieken, whose Bobcats bid for a second straight 14-0 Michigan Division 8 championship season Saturday morning at Ford Field.

“It’s humbling when people talk about you individually, and it can be a bit a little embarrassing because you know how many people are a part of it,” Dempsey said. “I’ve said it a hundred times in interviews — if I just show up and the rest of the staff stayed home, we’d be in big trouble.

“But, if the staff shows up, and I stayed home, we’d be in pretty good shape. To get accolades for stuff that so many people are a part of can make you stumble for words.”

Dempsey is the first three-time recipient of this honor in the 29 years of the All-Blade team, following recognition in 2005, when his Irish won its first state playoff title, and in 2019, when they reached the state semifinals.

“Coach Dempsey’s accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable,” said Central Catholic head of school Kevin Parkins. “He constantly puts his players in the best position for success on the field and has built an amazing staff that shares his vision. While he loves football, his obsession is for young people to become better — better students, better citizens, and eventually better athletes.”

With last Friday’s 41-6 win over Tiffin Columbian in a Division III regional final, Dempsey became the 33rd head coach in Ohio high school history to reach 250 wins (250-53 record). Of those 33 coaches in the 250 club, Dempsey’s career winning percentage of .825 ranks as the fourth best

In his mind, however, the wins and losses and championships won have been more about other elements.

Ahead of himself, Dempsey ranks Central Catholic’s abundance of talented players, a wealth of top-notch assistant coaches he calls the best anywhere, and his family, namely his wife of 20 years, Katie, his daughter, and two sons.

As for his role in the Irish program, Dempsey doesn’t agree with being labeled as the “CEO” of Central Catholic football.

“I don’t know about CEO,” he says, “because I’m still calling plays on Friday night, and I still love that strategy part. What I am is smart enough to know that, when you have good people, let them run with things.

“When you have Ryan Brown calling your defense, why mess with him? Coach Rob Garber running the strength program, why mess? Chad Huntebrinker with the offensive line. Why mess with him? If you have experts, listen to them. The give and take in our coaching room strengthens me. You want to hire people who are strong in your areas of weakness. If you surround yourself with people who are just like you, you’re not going to get any better.”

Dempsey began with an 8-3 finish in 2000 that closed with a 28-7 City League Hall of Fame Game win over St. John’s Jesuit.

The next two seasons brought the first two of Central Catholic’s now 22 playoff appearances (51-17 playoff record). Before his arrival, the Irish had made just three playoff appearances (1977, 1985, 1987) and never won a playoff game.

The resume now includes Division II state championships in 2005, 2012, and 2022, and a D-III crown in 2014. The Irish were state runners-up in 2015, and have reached semifinals under Dempsey in 2016, 2017, 2019, and this season.

“In my early years, my obsession and drive for what I thought this could be was kind of the lead factor,” Dempsey said. “The guys with me bought into that and worked with me. Whatever I asked them to do, they did. In the middle part of my career, I brought some veteran coaches in who could really teach me some things that could take me to the next level. The last seven years or so, it’s been my staff really driving me to get better and not get stagnant.

“It’s funny how that has played out over 24 years.”

Contact Steve Junga at sjunga@theblade.com or on Twitter @JungaBlade.