Class of 2019 Highlands Athletic Hall of Fame: Coach Dale Mueller

COACH DALE MUELLER

HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

Class of 2019

Dale Mueller graduated from Highlands in 1973 and was a two-sport athlete and team captain for the baseball and football teams.  In addition, Dale earned a total of 7 varsity letters and was named All-State his senior year in both sports.  Upon graduation, Coach Mueller attended Cornell University and played 3 seasons at catcher on the Big Red baseball team.  He then returned to the area and earned a degree in Secondary Education at Xavier University.  His football coaching career began with stints as an assistant at Newport and Western Hills High Schools.  He later became the head coach at Cincinnati Withrow and then moved to Sycamore High School to lead the Aviators’ program.

In 1994, Coach Mueller was offered the job to lead his alma mater and finished his career with an impressive 250-36 record over 20 seasons as head coach.  His football teams won 11 state titles and were runners-up 3 times.  Under the direction of Coach Mueller, Highlands ended their seasons ranked nationally 8 times, finishing as high as 3rd in the USA Today Prep Poll in 2009. His overall record as head coach was 309-67. In addition to being an outstanding football coach, Dale also excelled as a mentor in the classroom.  He taught science throughout his career as well.

During his tenure, Dale was recognized locally, statewide, and on a national level for his coaching success.  He won numerous coaching awards: the Louisville Courier Journal Kentucky Coach of the Year, Cincinnati Bengals Coach of the Year, Marvin Lewis Coach of the Year, the Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award, Russell Athletic National Coach of the Year, and the National Federation of High Schools National Coach of the Year.  More importantly, the positive impact Coach Mueller has had on his former students and players will be felt for years to come.  He continues to mold young people and teach life lessons through football in his work with the Ft. Thomas Junior Football League.

He resides in Fort Thomas with his wife Patty and has 4 children: Maggie Mason (Michael), Eamon (Melissa), Terrence (Lizzie), and Kelsa Ader (Jackson).  Dale and Patty have 5 grandchildren: Meredith, George, Henry, Alice, and Nori.

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To purchase tickets for the 2019 HHS Athletic Hall of Fame Reception, tickets must be purchased on Eventbrite.com by September 5, 2019 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/highlands-high-school-athletic-hall-of-fame-2019-reception-registration-66561391915

Tickets are $55 for the dinner reception at The Syndicate in Newport, Kentucky on 9/22/19 at 6:00 p.m. The Hall of Fame ceremony in the HHS PAC begins at 3:00 p.m. on 9/22. That event is free and open to the public.