GREENVILLE – Dave Ernst once again will be leading the Lady Wave high school soccer program with good friend John Tabler assisting for the 2023 season.
Ernst and his wife Stacy of nearly 31 years met at a Bowling Green University hockey match where the two graduated from college, Dave with a degree in Sports Management (collegiate administration) with a minor in Athletic Coaching. Stacy has served more than 20 years as a fourth grade teacher for Greenville City Schools.
Dave hails from Beavercreek and Stacy from Zanesville where Dave ran cross country, track and played basketball for the Beavers but was not a soccer player.
“Beavercreek High School is soccer heavy but I never once thought about it,” Ernst noted.
“To be honest, I had nothing to do with soccer until my kids started playing and I started helping out,” Ernst continued. “I started assistant coaching, then I became president of DCSA (Darke County Soccer Association), then it kind of became a passion. I had the opportunity to coach high school and coach the high school girls so I guess you could say it’s a passion now.”
The Ernst couple first arrived in Greenville by way of the YMCA of Darke County where he was hired as a Physical Director, a Branch Manager and Youth Adult Sports.
After more than 10 years at the local YMCA Ernst accepted a sales position with Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln, Inc. for the next five years.
“Dave is a great guy,” said Ernst. “I’ve always been a car guy so it was a nice fit. Dave gave me an opportunity, an avenue. Dave is a standup guy and a great community person.”
With an opportunity to make a career change, Ernst accepted a position with GNB Banking Centers (Greenville National Bank) and the rest is history.
“One of the vice presidents of the bank – I sold one of his relatives a vehicle and approached me if I might be interested,” Ernst shared. “I applied at that point and I guess you say 14.5 years later and Assistant Vice President I’m still here.”
“It’s a great place to work, a lot of great people,” he added. “It’s a very community heavy institution. They encourage you to do more in the community, to volunteer, get involved. It really is a great place to work.”
GNB Banking Center is a sponsor of the Matt Light All-Conference Football Camp, Greenville City Schools tennis courts (GNB Tennis Courts) and the underwriting sponsor of the press box at The Jennings Center Track & Field Complex just to name a few.
“The Matt Light Football Camp is a great opportunity for kids to be able to do something free of charge,” Ernst said. “Matt Light and Aaron Shaffer do a great job running the camp.”
Ernst continues to be very involved with many activities in and around Greenville including the Greenville School’s Foundation as well as serving as a past Greenville School Board member.
Dave and Stacy are the proud parents of three sons, Jordan (25), wife Ashley and the couple’s first grandchild, 17 month old Lincoln Jae. “She dominates grandpa’s life,” Dave said.
Middle son, Addison recently married Brooklyn, both Bowling Green University graduates and third son Avery is a recent 2023 graduate of Greenville Senior High School and will be attending Wilmington College this fall where he will play football for the Quakers as a kicker and punter.
