A coach with some past troubles is scheduled to regain the position he lost.
Jason Ohnsman, who served as Ballston Spa’s varsity football head coach in 2019 before being arrested for driving while intoxicated and removed from the position, is scheduled to be appointed head football coach at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.
Since that season, Ohnsman, a teaching assistant in the district, has served as a varsity assistant football coach, and is also a varsity boys’ lacrosse assistant coach and the school’s strength and conditioning coordinator. He is a 2008 graduate of Ballston Spa, and played football and lacrosse.
Ohnsman had led the 2019 football team to a 5-2 regular-season record and second place in the Class A Grasso Division before being arrested on Spring Street in the village of Ballston Spa for misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and ticketed for insufficient tail lamp and failure to notify the DMV of an address change.
He was put on leave, and assistant Greg O’Connor took over as head coach. O’Connor has served since then as head coach, but resigned earlier this spring to become an assistant coach, citing his commute from the Schuylerville School District, where he teaches math and was previously the head football coach for nine seasons.
It was Ohnsman’s second DWI arrest in five years, and the second to be pleaded down to driving with ability impaired.
His first came in 2014 in Saratoga Springs. By entering the DWAI plea, Ohnsman was spared from facing a felony if he’s charged with driving while intoxicated any time until November 2029. DWI charges are automatically raised to felony DWI if there is a prior conviction on the driver’s records over the past 10 years. He also paid a $660 fine, had his driver’s license suspended for 90 days, was ordered to do 50 hours of community service and attend a victim impact panel.
Requests for comments on the potential appointment from Ohnsman and Ballston Spa School District Superintendent Dr. Gianleo Duca were not returned in time.
Categories: High School Sports, Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs, Sports
