I Give Thanks This Thanksgiving Week

Between them, they have 0ver 500 victories in the 61 years they’ve been head coaches.

It’s a father-and-son coaching team that’s enjoyed success like few others.

What This Shows

Episode 22 – Building Men, Not Just Champions – Tim Goodwin’s Playbook

This week on the TwoDads Podcast, we sit down with legendary ⁠Marion Local⁠ head coach and principal ⁠Tim Goodwin⁠ for a conversation that goes way beyond the sidelines.

Yes, we talk football—building a powerhouse, leading in a small town, and how the game has evolved over the years. But we also dig into fatherhood, pressure, identity, and what it means to lead without losing yourself.

From coaching his own son to navigating life as both principal and head coach, Tim opens up about the moments people don’t usually get to see. This is one of the most personal conversations Coach Goodwin has ever done—filled with honesty, reflection, and more than a few surprises.

Bill Goodwin had been a part of Tim’s staff since his own retirement from Allen East High School in 2001. Bill began the program at Allen East, winning 219 games and capturing eight Northwest Conference championships during his 34-year tenure.

“Dad really is my greatest football influence,” said Tim Goodwin. “Just growing up and being around him as a ball boy and then playing for him and going to playoff games with him, that’s when I first decided I wanted to coach someday.”

Of Bill Goodwin’s five children, four of them have chosen education as their career path. Tim is also Marion Local High School’s principal; Jeff is the high school principal at Edison High School in Milan in north central Ohio; Shelley is an administrator at Ohio Hi-Point Joint Vocational School in Bellefontaine; and Brooke teaches at Bath schools in Lima. The fifth child, Becky, is the director of Ayrshire Dairy Cattle.

For a while there, Bill Goodwin had three grandchildren playing high school football, including Tim’s son Joel, at Marion Local, so on some fall Friday nights, he and his wife Judy — who both Bill and Tim agree has been as football-friendly a wife and mother as any you are likely to find — will sometimes be in Milan watching Jeff’s son, Clay, or at Allen East watching Brooke’s son, Jacob.

LESSONS LEARNED

Bill looks back on his nearly half century of coaching with unabashed honesty.

• He’ll tell you there are a couple keys to success: “If you can instill discipline and show fairness, the players will respond to you.”

• He admits to not being a fan of the dreaded two-a-day practices: “Look, I realize they’re important, but I’ve never liked them.”

• And he maintains kids have not changed over the last half century? “If anything, it’s probably in some places more a case of the parents changing. With kids, as long as you establish expectations and treat them fairly, they will respond.”

Tim Goodwin On Streaks, Reality, And What Comes Next – Press Pros Magazine

THE TURNAROUND

Tim Goodwin arrived at Marion Local in 1999 after coaching five years at Bluffton High School. The Flyers were experiencing a down cycle, and he wasted no time giving them a kick start.

His first game was a double-overtime win over defending state champion, Versailles, coached by highly respected Al Hetrick. The Flyers went on to roll into the state semifinals that year before losing to eventual state champion and fellow Midwest Athletic Conference foe Delphos St. John’s, ending Marion Local’s season at 10-4.

From there, it’s been an upward arc. Goodwin, this year’s recipient of the Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award, heads into this season with a 169-40 career record (.809 winning percentage) to go with those seven state titles. And, he’s done it exhibiting so many of his father’s traits, especially the legendary Goodwin calmness when football chaos sometimes swirls about.

“Dad told me when I first started coaching Baseball at Bluffton High School that you can’t expect your players to be in control of their emotions to perform well if you aren’t. If I’m ranting and raving, I lose the ability to think two or three plays ahead,” Tim Goodwin said.

FEELS BLESSED

Raised in Lafayette, Tim Goodwin has always felt a bond working with rural athletes at smaller schools. Today, he will tell you it’s a privilege to coach at a school like Marion Local.

“Our families over here tend to have both Mom and Dad involved in the child-raising business and, in many cases, even Grandma and Grandpa. The kids get a lot of guidance at home, which really makes my job easier.

Our kids are allowed to have kid problems, not adult problems, which, unfortunately a lot of children in more high-risk areas sometimes have to take on,” he said.

“In this community, the school is the hub. Look at our stands on Friday nights or in our gym in the winter, and you’ll see that. When you get that kind of involvement and support from families, you’re bound to have a pretty darn good school.”

It is not that Tim Goodwin hasn’t been courted by bigger schools. He’s had several offers since the trophies began filling the glass cases that line the hallways at Marion Local. He quietly thanked his pursuers before turning them down, remaining firmly planted at a very small school with a very big gridiron tradition, a school nestled among the rich, fertile farmlands dotted by villages such as Osgood and in Mercer County St. Rose, St Sebastian, Chickasaw and Maria Stein.

As Tim Goodwin will tell you, it’s an especially nice place to be, particularly when the fall air is crisp, a few stars twinkle above and the Friday night lights are ablaze. “I guess it all came down to what kind of environment I wanted Joel and his sisters Kate and Maddie to grow up in. My wife, Dawn, and I discussed the opportunities — some were tempting — but we decided that this was just too special of a place to leave … one where the pastures are very green.”

How to meditate using the number 76

If the number 76 often appears before your eyes, you can use it to your advantage. Here is a simple meditation guide for meditating with this number. A prominent meditation teacher said Just 5 minutes of meditation can change your day. You can also try a longer meditation, up to 30 minutes.

Sit with your back straight. Look about three feet in front of you. Look relaxed and unfocused. Try to find a comfortable position and do not move. Breathe through your nose. As you breathe in, silently say the number 76 twice. As you exhale, silently say the number 76 four times.

Concentrate on the breathing and number practice, but keep your senses open. You should see, smell, and hear everything as it is in the moment. If the emotions or thoughts appear, just return to the meditation that is your breath and number exercise. If you try this exercise for a longer time every day, you will definitely find a reason why the number 76 appears in your mind or in front of your eyes.

Tim Goodwin is the longtime head football coach and principal at Marion Local High School in Maria Stein, Ohio, where he has built one of the most dominant programs in the history of high school football.

Career Highlights

Head Coach since 1999: Tim Goodwin has led Marion Local for over 25 years.
Record: He has compiled an extraordinary 338–49 career record.
State Championships: Goodwin has guided the Flyers to 15 state titles, the most in Ohio high school football history.
Winning Streaks: Under his leadership, Marion Local achieved a nation-leading 76-game winning streak from 2020 to 2025, which was recently snapped Friday Night by St. Henry in the regional finals.
Dual Role: In addition to coaching, Goodwin has served as High School Principal since 2011 and is also a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Huddle Leader, emphasizing values and leadership.

Philosophy & Leadership

Goodwin is known for connecting great teaching with great coaching, stressing that building strong character and discipline off the field translates into success on the field.
His program emphasizes family values, community support, and player development, which has made Marion Local not just a football powerhouse but a cultural cornerstone in Maria Stein.
He has been recognized nationally, including winning the AFCA Regional Power of Influence Award in 2024.

Recent Events

Marion Local’s 76-game winning streak, the longest in the nation, ended on November 21, 2025, when St. Henry defeated them 24–7 in the Division VII regional final.
Despite the loss, Marion Local remains one of the most decorated programs in the country, with 15 overall state championships and a reputation for excellence.

Why He Stands Out

Tim Goodwin isn’t just a coach with a remarkable record—he’s a leader, educator, and community figure whose influence extends beyond football. His ability to sustain excellence for decades in a small-town program is a testament to his vision and discipline.

Would you like me to put together a timeline of Marion Local’s championships under Goodwin so you can see how his legacy unfolded year by year?

Absolutely — that would be a great way to see the scope of Tim Goodwin’s legacy at Marion Local.

Let’s build a year‑by‑year timeline of the Flyers’ state championships under his leadership so you can visualize the dynasty he’s created.

Marion Local Football State Championships under Tim Goodwin

Here’s the breakdown:

Year	Division	Opponent (Final)	Result
2000	Division VI	Dalton	Won 51–6
2001	Division VI	Hopewell-Loudon	Won 28–0
2006	Division VI	Shadyside	Won 17–0
2007	Division VI	Youngstown Ursuline	Won 20–14
2011	Division VI	Newark Catholic	Won 28–21
2012	Division V	Columbus Bishop Hartley	Won 17–14
2013	Division VII	Glouster Trimble	Won 33–0
2014	Division VII	Norwalk St. Paul	Won 41–0
2016	Division VI	Cuyahoga Heights	Won 41–0
2017	Division VI	Kirtland	Won 34–11
2019	Division VII	Lucas	Won 28–6
2021	Division VII	Newark Catholic	Won 42–7
2022	Division VI	Kirtland	Won 14–6
2023	Division VII	Dalton	Won 38–0

2024 Division Vll Jeromesville Hillsdale Won 74-0

Legacy Snapshot

15 titles in 27 Seasons — unmatched in Ohio high school football history.
Titles span three different divisions (V, VI, VII), showing adaptability to enrollment changes.
Multiple shutouts in championship games, highlighting defensive dominance.
Goodwin’s Flyers are widely considered the gold standard of small‑school football programs nationwide.

Here is a visual chart (like a timeline graphic or bar chart) showing the championship years so you can see the dynasty’s peaks at a glance?

Insights from the Chart

2000s: 4 titles — the dynasty begins with back-to-back wins in 2000 and 2001, then two more in 2006 and 2007.
2010s: 7 titles — the most dominant decade, highlighted by four straight from 2011–2014 and another streak in 2016–2017.
2020s (so far): 4 titles — continuing the tradition with wins in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The chart makes clear that Goodwin’s program didn’t just peak once — it has sustained excellence across three different decades, with the 2010s standing out as the golden era. The 2020s are already shaping up to be another strong run, even after the recent end of their 76‑game winning streak.

Watch All 15 State Championship Games Here

Press Pros Magazine · Yesterday at 6:46 AM

What I saw last week…November 24, 2025.

The story behind the story of Marion Local’s win streak:

What I Saw Last Week – Press Pros Magazine

Equally Impressive are the Quality of Teams

That Have Hung A Loss on Goodwin’s Flyers.

1999 Marion Local Flyers Football Results / Schedule

9/3 A Lehman Catholic (8-4)   [5:20] L 14-17
9/17 A St Henry (11-3)    [5:20] L 23-26
10/15 H St John’s (15-0)   [6:24] L 7-24
11/27 N # St John’s (15-0)   [6:24] L 8-38

2000 Marion Local Flyers Football Results / Schedule

10/13 A St John’s (13-1) [6:22] L 21-42

2001 Marion Local Flyers Football Results / Schedule

8/31 A Coldwater (11-3) [4:16] L 7-21

2002 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

8/30 H Coldwater (11-1) [4:16] L 14-21
11/15 N # Hardin Northern (14-1) [6:24] L 16-26

2003 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

8/29 A Coldwater (11-2) [4:14] L 0-7
9/26 A Versailles (15-0) [4:16] L 0-37
10/10A St John’s (11-3) [5:18] L 7-35
11/29N # Columbus Grove (15-0)[6:22] L 26-28

2004 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

8/27 H Troy Christian (7-4) [6:24] L 12-19
9/3 H Coldwater (13-1) [4:14] L 14-24
9/10 A St Henry (14-1) [5:20] L 0-28
9/24 A Minster (5-5) [6:24] L 7-21
10/17H St John’s (6-4) [5:18] L 7-13
10/29A New Bremen (9-4) [6:24] L 0-42

2005 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

9/2 A Coldwater (15-0) [4:14] L 7-38
9/30 A Versailles (9-2) [5:20] L 10-28
10/14A St John’s (13-2) [6:24] L 14-17
11/12N # St John’s (13-2) [6:24] L 21-28

2006 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

9/1 H Coldwater (11-1) [4:14] L 6-27
9/8 A St Henry (14-1) [5:20] L 0-31

2007 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule 15-0

2008 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

9/12 A Coldwater (12-1) [4:16] L 14-33
10/24A Anna (9-2) [5:20] L 6-16
11/22N # Liberty-Benton (14-1) [5:18] L 0-35

2009 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

9/18 H Coldwater (13-2) [5:20] L 19-42
9/25 A St Henry (9-4) [5:20] L 7-10
10/2 H St John’s (14-1) [6:22] L 14-35
10/9 H New Bremen (5-5) [6:24] L 14-17
10/16A Versailles (6-4) [5:20] L 26-28

11/28N # St John’s (14-1) [6:22] L 7-13 ot

2010 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

10/15A Coldwater (11-4) [5:20] L 21-42
10/22H St John’s (15-0) [6:22] L 13-17
11/12N # Minster (7-6) [6:24] L 26-30

2011 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

8/26 A Shawnee (5-5) [3:10] L 7-13 ot
10/22A St John’s (10-4) [6:22] L 14-21

2012 Marion Local Flyers Results / Schedule

9/22 A Versailles (5-5) [5:20] L 14-24
10/12A Coldwater (15-0) [5:20] L 0-27

2013 Marion Local Flyers Football Results / Schedule 15-0

2014 Marion Local Flyers Football Results / Schedule 15-0

2015 Marion Local Flyers Football Results / Schedule

10/9 A Coldwater (15-0) [5:18] L 14-17
12/5 N # Kirtland (14-1) [6:19] L 20-22

2016 Marion Local Flyers Football Results / Schedule