Across the American football landscape, certain head coaches just seem to "fit" with a particular program, often finding their way back to the sidelines where they once built their careers. Whether it's familiarity with the system, strong relationships with staff, or a deep connection to the program's culture, these returns often feel like a natural next step. Pending Board of Education approval, Little Miami Schools will embrace this trend by welcoming back Nate Mahon as the 20th head football coach in program history.
From 2016 to 2019, Mahon led the Panthers to 19 victories in three seasons, including back-to-back winning campaigns. His return mirrors the paths of notable coaches such as Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin, Greg Schiano at Rutgers, Mack Brown at North Carolina, and most recently, Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia. "My family and I have called the Little Miami School District home for the past eight years," said Mahon. "We can't imagine a better place to raise our children. We've had incredible experiences with Little Miami's faculty, staff, and youth sports organizations."
Little Miami athletic director
Matt Louis expressed confidence in Mahon's ability to revitalize the program. "One of Coach Mahon's greatest strengths is his ability to implement a plan for program resurgence, and this community has never been more eager to support its athletic programs."
When Mahon first took over as head coach in 2016, he inherited a program that had won just three games in three seasons under Ben Hubbard. Now, as he prepares to lead the Panthers once again in 2025, he faces a similar challenge: rebuilding a team coming off back-to-back one-win seasons in 2023 and 2024. "My first three years at Little Miami High School were some of the greatest years of my life, Mahon continued. "We have built lasting friendships and relationships here, and I couldn't be more excited to lead the Little Miami Football Program again, well into the future."
In 2018, Mahon was named an athletic hall of fame inductee at Hamilton High School for his accolades on the gridiron, and following his time with the Big Blue, he enrolled at Miami University in Oxford where he also played for the RedHawks. In 2008, Coach Mahon turned in his helmet for a headset and fulfilled his first role in the college football coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at Miami. Following the 2008 season, Mahon made the short drive westward to the University of Indianapolis where he earned his first full-time coaching role on the offensive side of the ball, and during the 2010 and 2011 seasons held defensive roles at the University of Cincinnati.
After his tenure at the college level, Mahon's journey would enter the high school ranks in 2013 where he advanced four times as a head football coach around Greater Cincinnati and won 64 games overall. From 2013-2016, Coach Mahon led a turnaround at Northwest High School where the Knights won 21 games while advancing into the OHSAA postseason twice. Following his time at Northwest, a door opened in Morrow and Coach Mahon delivered 19 wins for LMHS before returning to his alma mater Hamilton in 2019. The Big Blue alum guided HHS to 15 wins in three seasons, while also spending valuable time with his family in his childhood home. However, when Glen Este and Amelia High Schools combined to form West Clermont while joining the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, they turned to Mahon to rebrand their football program and Nate won nine games at the helm from the Wolves. Additionally, Coach Mahon's resume includes numerous examples of student-athletes and colleagues who have moved on to do incredible things in both their personal and professional lives.
Mahon's return marks a new chapter for Little Miami football, one filled with optimism and the promise of a brighter future. "I want to thank athletic director
Matt Louis, principal
Kevin Harleman, superintendent Regina Morgan, and the Little Miami School Board for recommending me for the position," Mahon concluded.
Little Miami opens its season on Saturday, August 23, at 7 PM, when they travel to Jackson High School for Year 1 of a two-year Week 1 nonconference matchup with the Ironmen. Next season, The Panthers will be anchored by 6-6 300-pound senior offensive lineman Nathan Wilson, who is their only returning ECC all-conference honoree following the 2024 campaign.
Year: Organization (Position)
2008: Miami University (Graduate Assistant)
2008-09: University of Indianapolis (Offensive Assistant/Offensive Line/Running Game)
2010-2011: University of Cincinnati (Graduate Assistant/Defensive Backs/Recruiting)
2012: Bishop McDevitt High School, PA: (Offensive Coordinator)
2013-16: Northwest High School (Head Coach)
2016-19: Little Miami High School (Head Coach)
2019-22: Hamilton High School (Head Coach)
2022-23: West Clermont High School (Head Coach)
2024: Perry-Meridian High School, IN: (Offensive Assistant)
2025-present: Little Miami High School (Head Coach)
