Dave Klontz, the head coach at Heath High School in Ohio, has been named the winner of the 2016 ABCA Ethics in Coaching Award. The award will be presented during the clinics at the ABCA Convention on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 in Nashville.
The ABCA Ethics in Coaching Award honors an individual who embodies the ABCA Code of Ethics. The American Baseball Coaches Association believes that the highest calling of a baseball coach is to teach life's lessons and model the character traits of honesty, integrity, respect and personal responsibility.
Entering his 45th season as head coach at Heath High School, Klontz looks to build upon on a 668-463 career record. Klontz's teams have won eight league, 17 sectional, seven district and three regional titles, to go along with two state championships (2002, 2007).
Klontz's role has not been limited to the baseball field, however. For 39 years, he taught Physical Education and Health at Heath, and served as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) advisor for 36 years. He was also an assistant football coach for 36 seasons. Klontz has been involved in the Heath community as well, serving as a city councilman and Parks and Charter board member.
Klontz, who has been involved with the Bulldog program for 50 years, has received 26 Coach of the Year honors at various levels. He has twice been named OHSBCA Ohio High School Div. III Coach of the Year (2001, 2002), and is also a two-time ABCA Regional Coach of the Year (2001, 2007). In 2007, Klontz was honored as the ABCA National High School Div. III Coach of the Year.
In 2003, Klontz was inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Heath High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the Mid-State (Ohio) League Hall of Fame and the Central District (Ohio) Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
A 43-year member of the ABCA and OHSBCA, Klontz has served as an officer in the Central District Baseball Coaches Association and on the Board of the OHSBCA.
Klontz is a 1968 graduate of Bethel College, where he received a bachelor's degree in Education. A four-year varsity letter winner in basketball and baseball, Klontz was honored as the 1968 Bethel College Outstanding Athlete. In 1977, Klontz received his master's degree in Physical Education from Xavier University.
Klontz and his wife, Sheila, have been married for 44 years. They have two children, Amanda and Adam. Adam also serves as an assistant coach alongside his father at Heath High School.