Classes at William Henry Harrison High School and Harrison Junior School were canceled Friday after longtime math teacher John Stephen “Steve” Coffman II suffered a medical emergency and died at the school on Thursday. Students were dismissed early that afternoon, and all after-school activities were called off as the Southwest Local School District abruptly shifted from a normal school day to a day of mourning.
District Statement and Support Plans
The district said on its website that the school building would still be open during normal hours Friday for any students or staff who wanted to come together, with grief counselors and community support resources available from 9 a.m. to noon, according to Southwest Local School District. The district added that it is working directly with Coffman’s family and that emotional supports will remain in place when classes resume on Monday.
Emergency Response and Timeline
When Coffman experienced the medical emergency, nearby staff and a Project Adam team immediately began emergency care before he was taken to Mercy West, where he later died, WHIO reported. The incident led directly to Thursday’s early dismissal and the cancellation of evening events.
Career in the Classroom and on the Sidelines
Coffman joined Southwest Local Schools in 2004 and over the years taught everything from middle-school math to Algebra II and financial math, the district noted. Before coming to Harrison, he taught in Indiana and poured additional hours into coaching, serving as assistant cross country coach, assistant softball coach and head boys basketball coach. He also worked as an investment advisor outside of school, according to Southwest Local School District. Colleagues say his steady patience and constant encouragement stayed with students long after they left his classroom.
How Students and Staff Remember Him
To many in the halls, Coffman was more than a math teacher. Staff and former players described him as a constant presence who treated students like family. “He loved those girls like they were his own,” Sandy Mahoney said, recalling his work with student-athletes. Tammi Wesley remembered a familiar hallway ritual: “He would not let you pass until you gave him a high five or a fist bump,” as reported by WLWT. Those small moments added up to the kind of impact students carried with them off the field and out into their lives.
What Comes Next for the Community
District leaders said counseling and support services will remain available and that staff and families will be able to access help when classes resume Monday, May 4, according to reporting by FOX19. Memorial arrangements have not yet been announced.
School officials have asked the community to keep Coffman’s family, students and colleagues in their thoughts as the district works through the next steps and coordinates long-term support. They said additional information will be shared as it becomes available, as reported by WLWT.
