Magenbauer retires as head football coach at Salem

      Ultra successful Salem High football coach Steven Magenbauer surprised high school football fans around the region, and certainly those at Salem by announcing his resignation and retirement Tuesday evening. He will be replaced by assistant Don Holter who has already been approved the City of Salem School Board.

     Magenbauer, who’s teams won five state championships said, “It is very hard to step down from a job that has meant so much to me and my family. However, I’m excited for coach Holter to become the next head football coach at Salem. I know how hard he will work and how much he loves everything about Salem. He is the right man for the job.”

      Magenbauer played for Salem High under the coaching of Willis White who won the first of his three state championships for the school. He suffered a neck injury his junior season and was not able to play anymore, but he wanted to coach. After college he was an assistant at Glenvar for three years, then became the first head coach at Hidden Valley for four years after that school split its enrollment with Cave Spring. He has been the head coach at Salem for 15 years. He replaced White. He went 7-4 in his final season in 2018.

    Magenbauer is stepping down on his own terms and will also leave his teaching position at the end of the current school year to pursue business opportunities. Holter came to Salem as an assistant in 2015. Prior to that he was an assistant coach at Franklin County, William Fleming, and Lord Botetourt. Holter, like Magenbauer, is a Salem graduate.

     Magenbauer posted a sterling 169-27 record as a head coach. Magenbauer and White were the only two head coaches at Salem from 1983 until 2018, 35 years.