Austin Rhoads is coming home.

The Lakota West graduate has been named athletic director at his alma mater in West Chester Township, returning to lead one of the Greater Miami Conference's most prominent athletic programs. Lakota Local Schools announced the hire Wednesday, Aug. 12, nine days before the Firebirds open the 2026 football season against four-time state champion St. Xavier on Friday, Aug. 21.

The board approved Rhoads' appointment April 27, and he started Aug. 1. He comes from Springboro High School, where he held the same position.

Superintendent Ashley Whitely said in the announcement that the leaders stepping into new roles "bring a strong commitment to student achievement and will provide the guidance, energy and support our students and staff need to thrive every day."

Rhoads inherits a program with deep roots. Lakota West has produced 13 NFL players, including first-round pick Ryan Kelly and 2026 NFL Draft selection Jackson Kuwatch, who went to the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round. The Firebirds earned multiple all-conference honors across spring sports, and the school graduated 699 seniors in May under Principal Scott Laman.

The timing puts Rhoads squarely in the middle of fall sports preparation. Lakota's first day of classes is Thursday, Aug. 13, and the football opener looms eight days later. St. Xavier has won Division I state titles in 2005, 2007, 2016 and 2020, all under head coach Steve Specht, according to WCPO.

Rhoads is a Lakota West graduate who competed in the Greater Miami Conference before returning to oversee the district's flagship athletic program. His departure from Springboro prompted that school to fill the vacancy, with Yahoo Sports reporting a replacement has already been named.

The Firebirds' football season opens Friday, Aug. 21 against St. Xavier.