One of the state of Virginia's most accomplished coaches over the past two decades is leaving the sidelines. Stephen Magenbauer has stepped down as the Head Football Coach at Salem High School after 15 seasons, announced in a press release on Wednesday morning.

A 1992 graduate of Salem, Magenbauer guided the Spartans to five state titles, including three in a row from 2015-17. He compiled a 169-27 overall record during his time as Head Coach.

“It is very hard to step down from a job that has meant so much to me and my family," Magenbauer commented in a statement released on Wednesday morning. "As a player, I never imagined that I could someday be the head coach of the Spartans. Any success I have experienced is only because of the fantastic people I have been able to work with over the years. Our assistant coaches, players, administrators and fans have been the driving forces behind our accomplishments. I just happened to be the guy who was fortunate enough to get the job."

Taking over as Salem's new Head Football Coach for 2019 will be Don Holter, an assistant to Magenbauer for the past four seasons who most recently served in the role of defensive coordinator. Holter teaches in special education at the school.

"I am very excited for Coach Don Holter to become the next head football coach at Salem High School. I know how hard he will work and how much he loves everything about Salem. He is the right man for the job," Magenbauer added.

Magenbauer arrived at Salem in 2004 after previous coaching stints at Hidden Valley, where he went 5-14 from 2002-03 during the program's first two seasons of existence, and Glenvar, where the Highlanders finished 13-7 overall from 2000-01.

Salem finished 7-4 overall in 2018 as their quest for a four-peat ended in the opening round of the regional playoffs, falling to Jefferson Forest by a count of 35-33. It was their earliest postseason exit since 2010. Prior to that defeat, the Spartans had won 13 consecutive playoff games.

The Spartans have been a model of consistency under Magenbauer, never finishing below .500 or winning fewer than seven games as they qualified for the playoffs in each of his 15 seasons. In fact, Salem hasn't missed the postseason since a 5-5 finish in 2002.

“To me, other than being a father and a husband, coaching football at Salem is the most special, unique and important job that I will ever have," Magenbauer noted. "I am thankful for the opportunity that the administration gave me back in 2004 and the continued support I have received since that time has been truly amazing. I have often said that if a community does not have something to rally around, then it’s just another place to live. Thankfully, in Salem, people rally around sports and Salem High School Football.”

Holter's roots run deep in Salem as he's a native of the city, played football for the Spartans and graduated from the school in 1988. During Willie White's tenure, he served as an assistant. White coached Salem from 1983-2003, leading the Spartans to five State Championship game appearances with three state title victories in 1996, 1998 and 2000.

For several seasons, Holter was an assistant at Franklin County under Billy Miles and coached on William Fleming's staff under Rob Senseney and Lee Johnson. Before returning to Salem, he was an assistant to Head Coach Jamie Harless at Lord Botetourt.

The cupboard looks far from bare for the Spartans as they usher in a new era in 2019, looking to make a deep playoff run at the Class 4 level.

“Being a football player at Salem High School is a point of honor for those of us who have earned the right to wear that jersey with SALEM written across the chest,” declared Holter. “You give all that you have to give for your brothers wearing the jersey, as well as your coaches, your school and your community. The relationships that I made and continue to maintain today run deep because of the commitment, experiences and accomplishments that we shared, and that sense of commitment and duty to do things the right way is something I carried with me my entire life.”

Matthew Hatfield serves as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a regular contributor to the ACC Sports Journal. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and don’t forget to listen to him weeknights from 6-7 PM on The 757 at 6 as well as every Saturday at 10 AM to Noon on ESPN Radio 94.1.