Craig Kyle-2025

Jonathan Alder High School

Craig Kyle was born and raised in Heath, Ohio where he graduated from Heath HS in 1998. During his time there he played and lettered in baseball, football and basketball. While playing at Heath he had the honor of playing for OHSBCA Hall of Fame member Dave Klontz. Coach Klontz has always been there for Craig as his main mentor throughout his entire coaching career. Craig attended The Ohio State University majoring in Education and is currently in his 21st year of teaching Health and Physical Education.

Coach Kyle’s coaching career has spanned over the last 24 years. His coaching career started with being named the head coach at Bexley MS in 2001, assistant coach at Thomas Worthington HS in 2002, assistant coach at Heath HS from 2003-2006 and then being named the head coach at Grandview Heights HS from 2007-2009. During his three years at Grandview Heights his teams totaled 60 wins and won 3 league titles. In 2010, Craig was named the head baseball coach at Jonathan Alder HS. Over the last 14 seasons his teams have complied a record of 317-69 (.821 winning percentage). In addition to coaching baseball, Craig has also coached high school football for 22 years with 15 of those years being at Jonathan Alder HS.

During his time as being a Head Coach, Craig’s teams have an overall record of 377-93 (.802 winning percentage). They have won 10 League Championships, 7 District Championships, 1 Regional Runner-up, 4 Regional Championships, 2 State Runners-ups and 1 State Championship in 2010 where they finished that season undefeated with a record of 34-0.

Craig has been awarded the OHSBCA State Coach of the Year x 2 (‘10, ‘24), ABCA Regional Coach of the Year (‘10), NHSBCA Regional Coach of the Year (‘10), Central District Coach of the Year x 3 (‘10, ‘16, ‘23), Dispatch All-Metro Coach of the Year (‘10) and OHSBCA All-Ohio Series Coach x 3 (‘10, ‘16, ‘23).

Craig has coached 19 First Team All-Ohio selections over the years including Grandview Heights alums Alex Neumann (‘08) and Johnathan Ray (‘09). Jonathan Alder alums Jacob Mahon (‘10), Tyler Miller (‘10), Sean Fleming (10’), Graham Johnston (‘11), Adam Collier (‘11), Nick Squires (‘11, ‘12), Nate Squires (‘12), Trent Kaltenbach (‘14), Jon Peters (‘16), Tanner Killian (‘16), Preston Eisnaugle (‘17, ‘18), JT Keith (‘21), Hank Shoemaker (‘23), Greg Kennedy (‘24), Garrett Roach (‘24), Chase Chopin (‘24) and Ashton Martin (‘23, POY ‘24). He has also had 30 of his former players go onto play baseball at the Collegiate level.

Coach Kyle has been a member of the Central District Coaches Association, (OHSBCA) Ohio HS Baseball Coaches Association, (NHSBCA) National HS Baseball Coaches Association and the (ABCA) American Baseball Coaches Association for 22 years. He served on the Central District Baseball Coaches Association Board and was President of the Association in 2016. He served on the Ohio HS Baseball Coaches Association Board moving through the chairs, being President of the Association in 2019 and is now on the executive board as the All-Star Series Director. He served on the ABCA National HS Rules Committee and is currently on the ABCA HS Divisional Committee.

Craig said what he appreciates most about his coaching career are the lifelong relationships built with a lot of his players, assistant coaches and other members of the coaching fraternity. He said he measures success on whether the players leave the program not just as better baseball players but as better young men. Attending weddings, celebrating births, coaching together, texts, phone calls, giving professional recommendations and celebrating other life milestones with his players mean more to him than the wins and losses.

Craig said words alone can’t even begin to thank all of the players, assistant coaches, parents, communities, athletic boosters, former coaches, collegues, teachers, staff, administration and most importantly his family for supporting his coaching and educational journey. Craig is blessed and humbled to be a part of the most outstanding high school baseball coaches associations in the country and now its hall of fame. Craig said he looks forward to upholding the standard and doing his part of carrying on the legacy of the Ohio HS Baseball Coaches Association and its hallowed hall of fame.

Craig and his wife of 20 years, Michelle reside in Plain City. They are the proud parents of their son Austin (14) and daughter Anniston (8). Craig said that Michelle has been by his side every step of the way in his coaching career and according to him has been his rock through her unwavering support during the highs and lows. Craig is the son of Charlie and Connie Kyle, brother to Cara Porter and brother-in-law to Adam Porter.