Defensive coordinator Matt Melle succeeds Brad Burchfield as Hartley football coach

Posted by author January 27, 2025 Football

Spread the love

Less than three weeks after Brad Burchfield stepped down as Hartley football coach to take over the program at Hilliard Darby, the Hawks have a new leader.

Matt Melle, a defensive assistant the past two seasons, was named head coach Monday.

“I appreciate the administration taking the time to go through the process with me and to arrive at the conclusion that I was the right person for the job,” Melle said. “It’s an opportunity to come together and really build a strong foundation for a football program that’s going to last and one that’s going to benefit the school in the long run, and I’m excited about being a big part of that.”

Burchfield resigned Jan. 8. He led Hartley to 168 wins and three state titles in his 17 seasons.

Melle, 46, coached linebackers in his first season at Hartley in 2023 and was defensive coordinator in 2024. The Hawks went 6-5 last fall, winning three straight games to clinch a Division III, Region 11 playoff berth before losing to Bloom-Carroll 44-43 in the first round.

Melle has more than two decades of coaching experience in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He was head coach at Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph in 2007 and 2008.

“His leadership skills, dedication and vision align perfectly with our school’s mission,” principal Christopher Kowalski said in a release. “We are confident he will build upon our football program’s legacy while fostering a faith-filled and positive experience for our student-athletes.”

Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter

Melle and his wife, Melissa, have four children: Vanessa, 19; Matthew Jr., 17; Alexa, 13; and Benjamin 11.

“Being a football coach is a 365 days a year job and being with the kids every day in their most important moments during the school day is vital for us, for me and for the success of the program,” said Melle, who is an English teacher at Hartley.

Burchfield guided Hartley to Division IV state titles in 2010, 2015 and 2016.

“Coach Burchfield means an immense amount to Bishop Hartley and Hartley football,” Melle said. “He always will. On a personal level, he means a lot to me. He gave me an opportunity upon relocating to Columbus to join what I believe is the premier football program in the area. …

“I’m just looking forward to honoring that tradition and carrying it on and doing some things a little bit differently, and hopefully leaving a mark similar to the way he did.”

fdirenna@dispatch.com

@DispatchFrank