By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Terry Malone's legacy reaches far beyond the halls of Badin High School, or the football field where he has won more games than any coach in Ohio high school history.

Malone, 70, who coaches his final game tonight, has touched the lives of at least two generations as a Badin history teacher, administrator and coach.

"He casts a long shadow, not just over that school, but over the lives of a lot of young men and women," says Middletown High School principal Dennis Newell, a 1969 Badin graduate who played linebacker for Malone.

Malone's former players and students include judges, executives, city leaders, legislators, principals, police officers and teachers.

A few followed him into coaching: Lakota West's Larry Cox, Fenwick's Bill Tenore, former Hamilton High School coach Ed Mignerey, and Badin assistant Jason Flowers from the 1990 state championship team.

"His style of football will be played for a long time," says Nick Dadabo, a Badin lineman and kicker in the 1960s who owns Chester's Pizza in Fairfield.

And why not? Malone's combined record of 359-117-8 in 46 seasons at Badin and Hamilton Catholic (which merged with Notre Dame High School in 1966 to form Badin) includes seven undefeated seasons, and three trips to the state finals. Only six prep football coaches in the nation had more victories at one school than Malone, says John Gillis, editor of the Los Angeles-based National High School Sports Record Book.

Former Hamilton mayor Adolf Olivas says Malone's sports achievements overshadow his impact in the classroom. "He made history come alive for me. To this day, I'm interested in history because of him," says Olivas, a Hamilton attorney.

Doug Becker, a vice president for Coca-Cola Bottling in Cincinnati, credits Malone with pushing him academically so he could attend Notre Dame and play on the 1977 national championship football team. "He got on me about my grades a few times," Becker says.

Vaughn Lewis, Hamilton human relations commission director, says he still lives by Malone's homespun sayings, like "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."

"Other than my dad," says Frank Pfirman, owner of Matandy Steel & Metal Products in Hamilton, "Terry Malone had the greatest impact on my life than any other man. He was a motivator, and he was tough. If you can make it through four years of his football, you can make it through anything in life."

Malone continues to mold Badin students today.

"Everyone on the team respects him. He knows so much about the game," says Badin sophomore Andy Spaeth. His father, Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Keith Spaeth, played on Badin's 1978 tournament team.

"I've not only learned about football but what kind of attitude and mindset it takes to be a competitor, and to win. His lessons go beyond the football field," says Badin senior Jason Howard.

"My main hope would be that I helped some of the kids that played for me to be successful in life, to lead productive lives," says Malone, a 1952 Hamilton Catholic graduate. "I'm sure at times I'm going to miss (coaching). I'll miss the feeling of butterflies before every kick-off. They've been there for every kick-off for 59 years."

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com. Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report.