A Diamond in the Rough: How Coach Ballard Polished Up the Admirals

7/14/2025

When it was first suggested to Coach Demetrius Ballard that he take over Severn’s football team, it was a hard pass.

A seasoned and respected coach with eight years at Archbishop Spalding under his belt, Ballard had worked tirelessly to elevate their football program and had no intention of walking away just as his efforts were beginning to net results. But once he learned more about the strong foundation that existed at Severn, the opportunity to step in and architect a refresh on Water Street was too good to pass up, leading Ballard to a change of heart and the ushering in of a new era for the Admirals.

The Phone Call That Changed It All

A former Division I basketball player turned football player, an Army veteran, and president of the Old Mill Youth Association, Ballard has never been one to take the easy path. And while the Admirals had a long history of success and a loyal fan base, the program had been losing ground in recent years. Fewer players were turning out, which only amplified the challenge at a school that admits fewer students than most of the competition.

Still, he was intrigued enough by the opportunity that he ultimately decided to throw his hat into the ring. During a sit-down with Severn’s leadership team, they laid out their vision for the future. Severn's plan included widening the community outreach network and strengthening ties with youth programs and coaches. Ballard was impressed by leadership’s commitment to advancing the program and increasing accessibility, but even after that meeting, it was still a no. Leaving his current post was too big an ask.

And then one phone call changed his mind. Ballard’s head coach at Spalding called him and matter-of-factly said, “Nobody believes you can succeed there.”

There was a beat of silence, followed by Ballard’s response: “You know this means I’m leaving, right?”

“When someone tells me I can’t do something, that means I’m going to do it,” Ballard said with a grin. The next day, he called Severn’s Athletic Director, Julian Domenech, and declared, “I’m in.”

“With Good Resources, You Can Do Anything”

Taking the job was one thing; reversing the program’s fortunes was another. When Ballard first reviewed Severn’s football roster, the numbers were admittedly discouraging. With only 13 or 14 returning players and a list of eighth-graders who might enroll at Severn the following year, the program needed reinforcement. “Here I am, the new head coach, and I’m looking at the board and who we had, and realizing I have my work cut out for me.”

What he saw as he dug in, however, increased his confidence and his gut feeling that he had bet on the right team. Because while others were concerned about the squad’s win-loss record, Ballard recognized his most valuable asset at Severn: good people. “With good resources, you can do anything, and the best resources are good people,” he said. And between the players and his coaching staff, Ballard had that in spades.

“What I uncovered was a solid program that was in need of a fresh start,” said Ballard, who started by meeting with current players and confirming incoming ninth-graders. “Severn always had good players and plenty of support. All we had to do was hit the reset button.”

Three students in particular became cornerstones of that reset and the positive energy that has followed since: Lawrence Jacobs ’25, then a rising sophomore, and two rising seniors, Nic Sotiropoulos ’23 and Jacob Todd ’23. These leaders rallied their peers, energizing the current roster of players and persuading athletes from other sports like lacrosse to join the team.

“One day, Nic came bursting into my office and said, ‘I’m playing football. And I’m going to make sure all the lacrosse kids play too,’” Ballard recalled. “He circled the wagons, and damned if those players didn’t show up.” Backed by the enthusiasm of those upperclassmen, the roster grew to 40–50 players. “I got lucky with them,” said Ballard. “They are amazing leaders and players, and they’re also why we are where we are.”

A New Era

The change in the program under Ballard is as impressive as it is undeniable. During the 2022 season, Severn went 7-3 and captured the C conference championship. In 2023, they successfully defended their title. In 2024, they moved to the more competitive B conference, where they notched another winning season (7-4) and earned a spot in the MIAA playoffs. The squad also scored a huge win over rival St. Mary’s, an A conference team that the Admirals hadn’t beaten in nearly a decade.

Ballard’s fresh approach to Severn football has reinvigorated the program in ways that go well beyond X’s and O’s. He reinstated summer football camps, invited youth programs to campus, and worked hard to build a bridge between Severn and families unfamiliar with what the school had to offer. “Once I get people to campus, it sells itself,” said Ballard, who sees in this role the fulfillment of a larger purpose: bringing communities together.

“There are so many kids out there who are great students from great families who don’t think to apply to a school like Severn,” he said. “I’m proud to facilitate those conversations and bring them together.”

“Exactly Where I Want to Be”

Despite his initial reluctance to make a change, Ballard is now exactly where he wants to be. So much so that in addition to football, he also coaches Middle School basketball—simply because he enjoys being around the students. “I fell in love with this place, and I’m part of the family now,” he said. “Severn is stuck with me!”

Just as Severn Football has grown stronger over the past two years, so too has Coach Ballard. He has come to understand that players will follow his energy, both on and off the field. “Everything you say and do matters, and they’re so smart they can smell BS a mile away,” he said. “You’re not going to get the best out of your players unless they’re getting your best all the time.”

Championship or Bust

What’s next for Coach Ballard and the Severn Admirals? “It’s championship or bust,” he said, flashing his signature smile. “We fell short in the semifinals this fall, and we’re ready to rectify that.”

With 19 starters returning, he likes his odds. But to prepare, he’s also taking the team out of its comfort zone with some big-time early-season matchups meant to test them. “Those are the types of games you’ve got to get into early if you want to win this thing, and we have the players to do it,” he said.

Whatever the 2025 season brings, there is no doubt that what was once a struggling program has been transformed into a source of Admiral pride. “Those kids who championed this team my first season made it okay to play football at Severn,” Ballard said. “It has just snowballed from there.”

This story originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of The Bridge - click here to see the digital version.

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