The Ottumwa Activities Department is proud to announce the appointment of Rich Mayson as the new Ottumwa High School Head Girls’ Track & Field Coach.

Mayson brings a wealth of experience and a strong connection to the Ottumwa athletic community. From 2015–2019, he served as Ottumwa’s Head Football Coach, Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach, and Assistant Boys’ Track & Field Coach. He then transitioned to Cardinal Schools, where he led the Boys’ Track & Field program from 2021–2024, coached middle school basketball, and served as Head Football Coach from 2022–2023.

In 2024, Mayson returned to Ottumwa Schools as an Assistant Football Coach and Assistant Boys’ Track & Field Coach. With both track staffs collaborating across the boys’ and girls’ programs, Mayson had the opportunity to work closely with many of the athletes he will now lead.

A 2002 graduate of Mexico High School (MO), Mayson went on to compete in Football and Track at Truman State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 2006. He later completed his master’s degree at Northwest Missouri State University in 2009.

Mayson expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “I’m really excited for the opportunity to serve as the head coach of our Girls’ Track and Field program! I think we have some things established that we can build on, and I believe that we can go to the next level.”

The Ottumwa Activities Department looks forward to the upcoming season under Coach Mayson’s leadership, with their first meet scheduled for March 31.

The Ottumwa Activities Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Coach Aaron Ruff as the new Head Boys Soccer Coach at Ottumwa High School. Coach Ruff brings more than two decades of leadership, program-building experience, and competitive success to the Bulldogs.

Ruff has been a dedicated figure in Iowa high school soccer since 1999, beginning his career as an assistant coach at Waukee High School. In his first season, he helped guide the Warriors to a state championship, setting the tone for a career built on high standards and a strong team culture.

He went on to serve as an assistant coach at Indianola High School, Ankeny High School, and Des Moines Roosevelt High School. In 2006, Ruff was named head coach at Roosevelt High School, leading the Roughriders to a state tournament appearance in 2009. He later returned to Ankeny High School as head coach in 2011, where he guided the Hawks to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 2011 and 2012.

Ruff continued his coaching journey in 2013 when he became the inaugural head coach at Ankeny Centennial High School. Under his leadership, the Jaguars advanced to the state championship match in 2015, another milestone in his distinguished career.

Coach Ruff holds a unique place in Iowa high school soccer history as the only coach to lead three different programs to the state tournament. With more than 140 career wins as a head coach, he brings a proven track record of success, leadership, and program development to Ottumwa High School.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to be named the head coach of Ottumwa Boys High School Soccer. This program has a strong tradition, and I’m eager to build meaningful relationships with our student-athletes while helping them grow as players, teammates, and young men.”

The boys soccer team has been conditioning this winter in the Southeast Iowa Sports Center, preparing for their first season game on March 31.

The Ottumwa Activities Department looks forward to the leadership, passion, and continuity Joseph “Joey” Mitchell brings as he steps into the role of Head Baseball Coach for Ottumwa High School.

Mitchell is a lifelong member of the Ottumwa community and a graduate of the Ottumwa baseball program. After beginning his baseball career at a young age, he played through the Bulldog program before continuing his collegiate playing career at Iowa Wesleyan University. While at Iowa Wesleyan, Mitchell also served as a student assistant coach for one year, where he was responsible for the outfield.

Following the completion of his playing career and degree, Mitchell moved directly into coaching, spending one year in Creston, Iowa, before returning home to Ottumwa. Over the past five years, he has served as an assistant baseball coach in the Ottumwa program, in addition to coaching football and girls' wrestling, demonstrating his commitment to student-athletes across multiple activities.

“I have lived in Ottumwa for almost all of my life and am proud to call it my home,” Mitchell said. “This community and this program mean a lot to me. I am very excited to step into a bigger role and continue to build the Ottumwa baseball program.”

The Ottumwa baseball season will kick off in the spring, with the first game scheduled for May 18, following graduation.

This announcement is pending board approval on January 12, 2026.