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HAMILTON — Badin High School football coach Dave Wirth resigned today, Feb. 18, to take the head coaching position at Covington (Ky.) Catholic.

Wirth told his players Wednesday morning.

"I knew this would be a tough day, talking to the players and such, but it's been much tougher than I thought," Wirth said in a statement. "I have really enjoyed my five years at Badin High School. It will always have a fond place in my heart."

Wirth was an assistant coach at Covington Catholic when Badin hired him in 2004 following the retirement of Terry Malone, Ohio's all-time winningest coach.

Wirth went 27-25 in five years at Badin, including 8-4 this season when he led the Rams to their first playoff victory since 2001.

"We certainly want to thank Dave for his service to Badin High School and wish him nothing but the best at Covington Catholic," BHS Principal Frank Margello said in a statement. "Dave's done a very nice job with our football program. He had to replace the winningest football coach in the history of the state, a legend in Terry Malone, but he did not shrink from that task. Badin football remains a highly respected program throughout the area."

Wirth is a graduate of Moeller High School and Xavier University. He is a religion teacher at Badin and will remain on the teaching staff until the end of the school year.

Margello said that he would be meeting with athletic director Sally Kocher and other members of the administration to set up a search committee for a new head coach.