Rob Oursler will be the next head football coach for the varsity team at Oberlin High School, the district confirmed this week. He moves into the job after serving as an assistant inside the Oberlin athletic program.
On the boys’ basketball staff, Oursler has also been listed as a varsity assistant. Oberlin City Schools described the appointment as the result of a thorough internal review before naming him head coach of the Phoenix.
Oberlin Athletics is proud to announce Rob Oursler as Head Varsity Football Coach. After a thorough search, we’re excited for the leadership and passion he’ll bring and the impact on our student-athletes and community. Welcome, Coach! #OberlinPride pic.twitter.com/xJJYmJK3cv
— Phoenix Athletics (@OBPhoenix) April 29, 2026
The hire keeps program leadership inside the district. Officials chose to elevate a coach already familiar with Oberlin’s athletes and staff rather than open a wider external search.
The vacancy traces back to March 19, when Kenny Washington stepped down after two seasons. Washington left to pursue a full-time opportunity outside of coaching.
At that time, athletic director Julian Acosta-Gorman said the school would begin with internal interviews before potentially expanding the search. He also confirmed that offseason workouts would continue uninterrupted while the program looked for its next leader.
Washington had taken over from Mark Campo, who departed after the 2023 season. The Oursler appointment marks the third head coaching change for Phoenix football recently.
Continuity appears to be a central reason for the choice. Oursler already understands the athletic department’s day-to-day rhythm, which should smooth the transition during a compressed offseason window.
Oberlin High School, home of the Phoenix, is the only high school in the Oberlin City School District. The football program has worked through several leadership shifts and is trying to build stability at every level.
Oursler’s immediate focus turns to staffing the coaching room for the fall. He will also organize summer workouts and begin shaping preparation for the 2026 season.
Those next few months will matter. The new staff has to install its system, set expectations, and build trust with returning players before the schedule arrives.
The Phoenix have been searching for traction on the field after several difficult seasons. Leadership inside the district has emphasized building the program from within, and this hire reflects that approach.
For Oberlin City Schools, the decision signals a preference for institutional knowledge over an outside reset. District leaders weighed a broader search but moved forward once the internal interview round produced a clear choice.
The announcement did not detail Oursler’s complete coaching background inside the athletic department. Specific staff plans, contract terms, and schedule notes were withheld when the hire was announced.
The 2026 campaign will be his first as a head varsity football coach. Early priorities are expected to include finalizing assistants, organizing summer conditioning, and meeting with returning players.
Acosta-Gorman previously indicated that maintaining program momentum during the transition was a central goal. Promoting from within supports that goal and minimizes disruption as we head into summer.
The coaching change that began in March now has its answer. Phoenix football moves forward under Oursler as the program works toward the start of the 2026 season.
