Bay Village City School District Announces New Head Football Coach

At the Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Board of Education Meeting, the Bay Village Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the hiring of Nick Bigrigg as Bay High School’s next head football coach. Bigrigg succeeds Bay High School Technology Teacher Ron Rutt, who announced in December of 2024, he was stepping down as coach after 11 seasons to spend more time with his young family.

According to Bay Village Schools’ Athletic Director Matt Spellman, the process was extensive to find Bay High School’s next head football coach.

“Over the past three weeks, we have been diligently working through the process of hiring our next head football coach,” said Spellman. “We received 36 applications for the position, and after an extensive paper screening process, we invited 12 candidates for the first round of interviews. From that group, five candidates were selected to interview before a committee composed of administrators, coaches, parents and community members. Ultimately, two finalists advanced to the final round, where they participated in a series of in-depth interviews and completed two performance-based tasks relevant to the position.”

According to Spellman, Coach Bigrigg has been an integral part of Bay High School’s football coaching staff for the past two years. Prior to his coaching tenure, he played a key role in founding the Bay Village Football Club, a youth football organization dedicated to supporting players at all levels, while fostering a strong connection between youth teams and school teams in grades 7-12. Additionally, Coach Bigrigg has been actively involved in coordinating strength and conditioning training for the football program in collaboration with T-3 Performance trainers.

“As a coach, he has worked closely with our quarterbacks over the past two seasons, building strong relationships with athletes and bringing enthusiasm and energy to the program,” said Spellman. “His passion for the game is evident, and he is eager to build upon the positive team culture that Coach Rutt has cultivated over the past 11 years.”

“I am deeply honored to accept the position of Head Football Coach at Bay High School,” said Bigrigg. “This program boasts a rich history, dating back to its inaugural team in 1927, and has been a cornerstone of our community ever since.”

When asked about his vision for the football program, and how he plans to foster both athletic excellence and personal development among his players, Bigrigg said, “Our vision is to build upon this proud tradition by creating a football program that sets the standard for speed, power and athletic performance, while developing strong, resilient athletes and servant leaders who thrive both on and off the field.”

“By prioritizing health, recovery and holistic development, we aim to redefine success in football—measured not only by wins, but by the lasting impact we have on our players’ lives,” said Bigrigg. “I look forward to working with our student-athletes, their families and the entire Bay High community to continue this truly special legacy.”

Spellman said he’s in the process of planning a meeting for all grade 7-12 football players and their families to officially introduce Coach Bigrigg and to discuss the future of the program.

“We thank Coach Rutt for the positive impact he has had on the football program these past 11 seasons, and we look forward to the next chapter with Coach Bigrigg’s leadership,” said Spellman.