The prominence of Buckeye football often leads observers to refer to Columbus as a “football town.”
And within the Columbus metro area, there’s no city more deserving of the title than Dublin. Not only has the City sent a number of players to college and pro football, it’s also a top choice for those football names – past and present – who live in central Ohio.
Urban Meyer
When it comes to football figures with connections to Dublin, the first name on everyone’s list is Buckeye football coach Urban Meyer.
Meyer is on everyone’s mind now for leading the Buckeyes to the national championship this past season. He also led the Florida Gators to two national championships and has been head coach for the University of Utah and Bowling Green State University as well.
Having signed on in late 2011, Meyer’s first season with The Ohio State University was 2012.
Though real estate agents showed her options all over the Columbus area, Meyer’s wife, Shelley, saw a lot to like in Dublin. The house they chose in Muirfield offered privacy, a reasonable commute and proximity to the Muirfield Village Golf Club, a bonus for golf-loving Urban. It also has an open floor plan – very important when planning large gatherings, Shelley says.
Though the Meyers’ daughters are in college and their son is attending Catholic school – first St. Brigid of Kildare School, now Bishop Watterson High School – the school district was another big selling point, Shelley says. Like several other local football families, they are parishioners at St. Brigid Church.
Being so close to the Memorial Tournament is a plus too, Shelley says.
“As much as I’m not a golf person, I really enjoy that week,” she says. “There’s a lot of camaraderie.”
Another benefit to the area: the proximity of other members of the coaching staff. Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Luke Fickell is just one other staffer in or around Dublin.
“I think it just speaks to this community and how welcoming it is,” Shelley says.
Beyond Urban’s day job, the couple is involved in the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer and other endeavors benefiting cancer research at OSU.
Luke Fickell
Not only does the Buckeyes’ coach live in Dublin, but the team’s previous coach – Luke Fickell, who led the squad in 2011 between the tenures of Jim Tressel and Meyer – lives in the area as well.
Fickell has filled various coaching roles for OSU since 1999, with the exception of a two-season stint at the University of Akron. A Columbus native, he also played nose guard for the Buckeyes in the 1990s. He was signed to the New Orleans Saints for one season, in 1997, before a torn ACL ended his playing career.
Fickell, his wife, Amy, and their six children have lived in Concord Township, just beyond the borders of the City and within the school district boundaries, for four years.
Not only does it put them closer to school and church – they are parishioners at St. Brigid, and their children have gone to school there – it puts them closer to three of Amy’s siblings, who all live in Dublin. One of them is Jill Hoying, wife of former Buckeye Bob Hoying.
The community’s youth athletics are a big point of pride for the Fickells, and it’s nice that they get to play with their relatives, Luke says. The proximity of other coaching staff is a big help as well, both for work and social purposes.
“When Tressel was here, a lot of our families were spread out around Columbus,” Luke says. “Now, I would say a lot of them have centralized in the Dublin area.”
Though their children attend Catholic school, the Fickells laud Dublin City Schools, as well as the City’s parks and technology.
The Fickells are involved with the Women’s Care Center of Columbus, the Run the Race Club and the 2nd & 7 Foundation.
Bob Hoying
Known as Bobby Hoying in his gridiron days, the former Buckeyes starting quarterback and NFL player has called Dublin home since 1998.
And Hoying does much more than just live here: He’s a principal at full-service real estate company Crawford Hoying, which has been involved in a variety of central Ohio projects.
Hoying was starting quarterback for The Ohio State University from 1993 to 1995, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996. He played for the Eagles until 1998, when he was traded to the Oakland Raiders, and he retired due to an injury in 2001 with 2,544 passing yards to his name.
Even before he retired, Hoying – who graduated with a business degree from OSU – began getting involved with his father, Vern’s, construction company during the off-seasons. That’s how he met fellow principal Brent Crawford. The company built its first apartment complex in 1998, and has been growing and diversifying ever since.
Hoying found the construction business and the feeling of completing a major project very appealing. The Bridge Street District – the major entertainment, retail, office and residential area under way now – is a prominent example.
“We say all the time that this doesn’t feel like work to us,” he says.
The Tartan Fields resident and his wife, Jill, were initially attracted to Dublin because it was an easier drive to northwest Ohio, where their families live. But just as important were the quality of the schools, the amount of open space and the variety of activities, Hoying says.
“We never thought twice about making Dublin our home,” he says.
Hoying has coached middle school football the last three years at St. Brigid, where he and his family are parishioners.
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching middle school football,” he says. “It keeps me connected to the game.”
Brady Quinn
Football remains a big part of the life of Dublin Coffman High School graduate and former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn, and though his career has taken him out of Ohio, he returns often to work on projects for his charitable foundation.
Quinn is currently a Florida resident, having most recently been part of the Miami Dolphins’ roster. After playing college ball for the University of Notre Dame, during which time he set 36 Fighting Irish football records, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2007. He was part of the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and St. Louis Rams before ending up with the Dolphins.
Having been cut by the Dolphins last summer, Quinn is transitioning into TV broadcasting for pro and college football.
Quinn started the 3rd & Goal Foundation in 2010. Its mission: to assist veterans in need of home assistance.
“We do a lot of our projects in Ohio, and in the central Ohio area,” Quinn says.
He was inspired after meeting a group of soldiers who had seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and were now having difficulty getting funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs to adjust to changes in their lives.
“There were guys who were coming back who were missing limbs … (and) were forced to be in wheelchairs,” among other issues, Quinn says.
Since its inception, the foundation has remodeled homes, renovated kitchens and bathrooms, built new entries and exits, and more. It has also helped find homes for homeless veterans. Recent projects have taken place in Columbus, Westerville and Fostoria.
Quinn’s connections to veterans go beyond those he has met as part of his foundation work. His father, Tyrone, served as a Marine in the Vietnam War. Both of his grandparents saw combat, too.
Luke Fickell on the Buckeyes’ 2015 Season
“I don’t think the expectations ever change. The people of Columbus … (A national championship) is what they expect, and they’re pulling for it every year. … For our guys, they come to expect this type of situation, this type of pressure, year to year. … There’s definitely not a lack of confidence and belief in what we can do.”
Other Dublin Football Names
Mike Adams: An offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Adams graduated from Dublin Coffman High School in 2008 and played for the Buckeyes in college.
Dave Adolph: A longtime pro and college coach, Adolph served as defensive coordinator for such teams as the Browns, Chargers, Raiders and Chiefs. He retired in 2007 and now lives in Dublin.
Tony Alford: Alford joined the Buckeyes staff as assistant head coach for offense in February. He lives in Plain City, in the Dublin City School District.
Chris Ash: Ash is defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Buckeyes, a position he has held since 2014. He lives in Bishop’s Run, not far from Dublin Jerome High School.
Nick Goings: Goings played for Coffman for three years, then graduated from Dublin Scioto High School. He was a running back at OSU, then the University of Pittsburgh, and played for the Panthers from 2001-2008.
Jim Heacock: Heacock coached for OSU from 1996 to 2012, first as a defensive line coach and then as defensive coordinator. He lives in Concord Township, within the Dublin City School District.
Mickey Marotti: The Buckeyes’ assistant athletic director for football sports performance, who lives in Concord Township, has been with the team since 2012.
Bradley McDougald: Wide receiver McDougald graduated from Scioto, then attended the University of Kentucky en route to the NFL, where he played for the Chiefs. He’s currently on the Buccaneers’ roster.
Chinedum Ndukwe: Another alumnus of Coffman, safety Ndukwe was Quinn’s college roommate at Notre Dame. He played in the NFL for the Bengals and Raiders, and now, alongside his three siblings, runs the Ndukwe Foundation, which helps young people find solutions for everyday pressures.
Ayodeji Olatoye: Scioto alumnus Olatoye played college ball for the University of Colorado and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He is a defensive back for the Ravens.
Jay Richardson: Current free agent Richardson graduated from Scioto, then played wide receiver for the Buckeyes. He has been signed to the Raiders, Seahawks, Jets and Saints.
Zach Smith: Smith, a Coffman graduate, has been OSU’s wide receivers coach since 2012.
Jake Stoneburner: Coffman graduate Stoneburner played tight end for the Buckeyes from 2009-12. He signed with the Packers in 2013 and is currently part of the Dolphins’ practice squad.
Vince Workman: Workman still holds several rushing records at Coffman from his tenure there from 1982-84, when it was simply Dublin High School. He played college ball for OSU and pro ball from 1989 to 1996, appearing on the rosters of the Packers, Buccaneers, Panthers and Colts.
Garth Bishop is managing editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
