Northeastern Local School District Names Brad Heintz as Kenton Ridge Middle and High School Athletic Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
(937) 325-7615

Northeastern Local School District Names Brad Heintz as Kenton Ridge Middle and High School Athletic Director

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, April 21, 2026—The Northeastern Local School District (NELSD) proudly welcomes one of its own home. Mr. Brad Heintz, a Kenton Ridge High School alumnus, has been named the new Athletic Director for Kenton Ridge Middle and High School, effective for the 2026-27 school year. His appointment is pending board approval at the April 23, 2026, Regular Board Meeting. Heintz brings a wealth of athletic experience and a deep personal connection to the Kenton Ridge community, paving the way for continued success within our athletic programs under his leadership.

A proud alumnus of Northeastern Local School, Heintz graduated from Kenton Ridge High School in 2007, where he was a member of the football, baseball, and basketball teams, as well as participating in musicals, choir, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Math Education from Grace College and a Master of Arts in Reading Education from Concordia University Chicago. 

Heintz most recently served as Athletic Director at Northwestern Local Schools in Springfield, Ohio, where he has overseen a comprehensive athletic program encompassing 22 high school and middle school sports since January 2024. Prior to that role, he served as Northwestern’s Assistant Athletic Director beginning in August 2022. His administrative accomplishments include modernizing the district's Athletic Record Board and Hall of Fame, authoring a successful grant to secure a field-painting robot, launching a community fireworks night fully funded by local sponsors, and transitioning all athletic communications to the Sports You platform. He also hosted multiple conference tournaments and Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) sectional events. Before moving into athletic administration, Heintz spent nearly a decade as a classroom teacher and was honored by the Columbus Blue Jackets as one of 60 Most Valuable Teachers nationwide.

His coaching career at Northwestern Local Schools includes serving as head golf coach from 2016 to 2024, during which he led the program to four conference championships, four district appearances, and two state appearances. He also coached JV basketball and varsity baseball and started a middle school golf program. 

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to return home to Kenton Ridge as Athletic Director,” said Mr. Brad Heintz. “This community gave me so much as a student-athlete, and I am eager to give back. I look forward to supporting our coaches, championing our student-athletes, and building on the tremendous tradition that exists here at Kenton Ridge.”

“Brad's combination of hands-on athletic administration experience, his coaching success, and his passion for this community made him the right choice for Kenton Ridge,” said Kenton Ridge Principal Ms. Lori Swafford. “We are excited to welcome him back home and are confident in the direction our athletic programs will take under his leadership.”

“Kris Spriggs has been an exceptional steward of Kenton Ridge athletics, and we're grateful for his 20-plus years of dedicated leadership with our coaches and student-athletes. We extend our heartfelt thanks and wish him a well-deserved retirement after years of tireless service," said Mr. Jack Fisher, Superintendent for Northeastern Local School District. "We're thrilled to welcome Brad home to his alma mater. He brings a strong record of administrative achievements, coaching successes, and a personal connection to the community he is returning to serve. His familiarity with our community, combined with his track record of success at Northwestern, positions him perfectly to uphold and enhance our athletic tradition."

Brad and his wife, Lindsay, a middle school teacher at Kenton Ridge, are both committed members of the NELSD community, invested in the success of its students and the overall culture and growth of Kenton Ridge. Lindsay and Brad have two children, Ellie and Cooper, who will both be Cougars in the near future. The Cougar family is thrilled to welcome Brad into his new leadership role and looks forward to the positive impact he will have on our athletic programs and school community.

About NELSD:

Northeastern Local School District (NELSD) is a public school district located in the northeastern portion of Clark County, Ohio.  NELSD serves approximately 3,000 students in grades PK-12 at two facilities across the district, Kenton Ridge Campus (PK-12), and the Northeastern Campus (PK-12). For additional information, visit www.nelsd.org. 

###