Darby graduate Chase Longwell to become first-time head coach with Marysville football

Posted by author January 29, 2025 Football

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As a former high school and college quarterback who has served as a co-offensive coordinator since 2020, Chase Longwell could show on paper why he deserved to become a head coach for the first time.

But having an impressive resume wasn’t the only reason why Longwell has been named the next football coach at Marysville, pending school board approval. Athletic director Joey Day praised Longwell for other skills that would benefit the program.

“Through a thorough interview process, we really got to know Chase and see his vision and … the depth that he brought of how he wants to run his program,” Day said Wednesday. “What really stood out for me is there’s a real sense of authenticity and his focus on relationships and being kid-centered, and making sure that he’s being a leader for those in his program.”

Longwell, who has been on the staff at his alma mater, Hilliard Darby, since 2017, believes coaching is more than X’s and O’s.

“It’s something that I take pride in, being able to make those connections and helping those kids in any possible way, whether it’s being somebody that they can talk to or being somebody that can help get them back on track, whatever it is,” Longwell said.

Longwell will succeed Brent Johnson, who stepped down in December after eight seasons. Although the Monarchs were a combined 7-15 the past two seasons, they went 7-5 in 2022 and 12-1 in 2021, reaching the Division I, Region 2 final.

Longwell, 30, played football and baseball at Darby, graduating in 2013. He went on to play football at Capital, where two left ACL injuries shortened his collegiate career.

At Darby, Longwell served as the running game coordinator, quarterbacks coach and junior varsity coach before moving into the coordinator role. He also was an assistant baseball coach at Darby from 2016-21.

“When you look at Marysville from the outside, you see discipline, you see hard work, you see toughness,” Longwell said. “Those were the big draws that brought me to it. It opened my eyes because that is exactly what aligns with my philosophy.”

Longwell played for and coached under John Santagata at Darby. Santagata stepped down in November after 17 seasons and was succeeded by Hartley coach Brad Burchfield.

As an assistant coach at Darby, Longwell mentored Blake Horvath, a 2022 graduate who is now a standout quarterback at Navy.

“You don’t get kids like that very often,” Longwell said.

Longwell and his wife, Kelsey, live in Hilliard with their 4-year-old daughter, Blake, and 3-year-old son, Jack. Longwell is an eighth-grade science teacher at Heritage Middle School in Hilliard.

“This is an opportunity that I didn’t think would pop up and since it did, it’s been an amazing last couple of weeks,” Longwell said.