New Richmond coach killed in mowing accident
New Richmond lost a popular coach on Friday when Joe Middeler was killed in a mowing accident at his home near Moscow.
According to Clermont County Sheriff A.J. "Tim" Rodenberg, Middeler was operating a Scag Tiger Cub Zero Turn mower on Friday afternoon. Middeler got too close to an embankment with the mower and the vehicle flipped over on him.
Middeler's wife came home and called police after finding him.
"This is a tragic loss for our district and the New Richmond community," said New Richmond district superintendent Adam Bird. "Joe was a popular coach and school supporter for decades and will be missed."
New Richmond athletic director Doug Foote says Middeler never craved any attention. But the longtime New Richmond coach had a far-reaching impact on the student-athletes he instructed over the years.
"The most unassuming guy I ever was around," said Foote, who has been athletic director since 2008. "He put everybody first before him."
A 1970 graduate of New Richmond High School, Middeler just completed his 15th season as varsity boys' swim coach. He started the New Richmond Middle School swim program in the early 1990s and coached at that level before moving up to varsity. He also taught swimming for the New Richmond High School PTO and has been an OHSAA swim official for more than 30 years.
Foote said Middeler was always around the athletic department to help – whether it was setting up hot dogs at the concession stand before football games – setting up a computer at a swim meet or helping to address a maintenance problem around school. Foote said Middeler never asked for a penny.
"He was more of a people person," Foote said. "He loved being around the kids and kids loved them."
Middeler, 63, helped develop recent Division I college swimmers Nate Kramer (University of Cincinnati) and Alex Lewis (Cleveland State) and 2014 state qualifier Tyler David. He was inducted into the New Richmond High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a substitute teacher at New Richmond for the past 25 years.
Middeler, who earned a BS of Education degree in physical education and health from Xavier University, served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War (1971-72) and was a member of the New Richmond American Legion and VFW posts. He was a lifetime member of the Operating Engineers Union.
Foote said he wanted the student-athletes to capture the spotlight. Foote has a photo of 2014 state swimming qualifier Tyler David, who the school held a parade rally for on the third floor. Middeler is a step behind David in the photo.
"That was Joe," Foote said.
New Richmond assistant swim coach Malissa Cornett. She is a 1991 New Richmond graduate. She has known the Middeler family for many years and the family taught her how to swim. She is now an English teacher at school.
"He just loved kids. …He had a wonderful sense of humor." She said Middeler had a great deal of patience with the student-athletes.
"It is such a tremendous loss," Cornett said.
Visitation for Middeler will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the E. C. Nurre Funeral Home, 177 W. Main Street, Amelia. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter Church, New Richmond. Burial will be at St. Peter Cemetery in New Richmond. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Richmond Food Pantry.