Veteran softball coach David Meier is returning to the diamond this spring after a two-year absence. Ryle High School recently named Meier its next head coach. He replaces Mary Beth Odom, who parted ways with the softball program after one season.
Meier met the team on Monday. He saw the Raiders on the softball field at tryouts and in a school parking lot while they helped construct the softball team’s float, one of many entries in the Ryle homecoming parade.
“I’m excited about the Ryle program,” said Meier, 52. “We’re young but we have a lot of talent.”
Meier will be the Raiders’ third head coach in three years, following the departure of Craig Milburn. He resigned after the 2021 season. Under Milburn, the Raiders enjoyed eight successful seasons, including their last 9th Region tournament championship in 2018. Ryle’s 10 regional crowns are the most of any northern Kentucky school.
“We have a lot of girls coming out this season and that’s exciting,” Meier said. “We had 25 at our first tryout and that doesn’t include girls on the basketball team. Everybody was very welcoming.”
Meier’s last head coaching position was in 2022 at Villa Madonna. He guided the Vikings for 10 years, achieving a 121-93 career record. His teams won four Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division III championships and two 9th Region All “A” Classic titles. Known for creating a family atmosphere, Meier also coached his three daughters at Villa Madonna.
During his tenure, Meier won two NKAC coach of the year awards. His 2015 Villa Madonna squad set a school record with a .399 batting average. He was there when the school upgraded its softball facility. That led to Villa Madonna hosting its first-ever All “A” Classic Ninth Region softball tournament in 2016. His 2022 squad set a program record with 19 wins, and Villa Madonna’s four winningest seasons came under his direction.
Meier also coached softball at Notre Dame Academy from 2009 to 2011. He recently assisted at Holy Cross.
In addition to softball, Meier coached baseball at Villa Madonna for 11 years. He was the baseball coach in 2003 when Villa constructed its softball field. When he began as the softball coach, the team played in an open field. The field is now fully enclosed with new fencing and a drainage system. It also features a scoreboard and an upgraded concession stand.
Meier started the Villa baseball program in 1995, winning 107 games. He was a top prep baseball player at Covington Catholic and a college standout at Thomas More. Meier hit .380 in his Saints career, set school pitching records and was a team MVP. He also was an Association of Mideast Colleges player of the year.
Since then, Meier has become deeply involved in local youth sports as a coach and volunteer. He is a member of the Reds Kid Glove Board. A member since 2004, he is the current treasurer.
Meier and his family are a persevering bunch. He had quadruple heart-bypass surgery 10 years ago. This week he became a Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame inductee. All three of his daughters attended college and two coach local sports teams.
“They already have March 15 circled on the calendar,” Meier said. “That’s the day of our first Ryle softball scrimmage.”
The Raiders lost just three seniors to graduation, one of them standout Maddie Goddard, their pitching ace, and senior Laney Schuster is now at Simon Kenton. They expect the return of three new seniors including Laci DeLauder, Hannah Dunn and Makayla Irvin. DeLauder was second on the team in innings pitched and fifth in batting average.