Defiance College hires Stephen Alspaugh as Director of Athletic Bands

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College has named Stephen Alspaugh as its Director of Athletic Bands to reinstitute the band program beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, the Athletic Department announced on Wednesday.

This role and the band program are strategic additions to expand the growing culture around athletics. Beginning with a marching band to perform at football games and a pep band for home basketball games, Defiance College will be able to deliver a new entertainment dynamic and an enriched atmosphere to its home games to be enjoyed by students and community supporters alike. DC is prepared to begin band performances at home events beginning in the fall of 2026.

Alspaugh comes to DC with 33 years of experience in education, including 26 years as an administrator and 11 years as a band director. Alspaugh has spent the last 18 years as the principal at Bryan High School. He has experience leading junior and high school bands at Williamson High School (Williamson, W.Va.), Euclid High School (Ohio), West Jefferson High School (Terreton, Idaho), and Marion Pleasant High School (Ohio). He completed his bachelor's degree in music education at Ohio Wesleyan University in 1988 and went on to obtain his master's in Educational Administration and Supervision at North Carolina State in 1996. While at NC State, Alspaugh spent two years as a graduate assistant band director for the Wolfpack.

In addition to his vast leadership experience in music, he also engages the community through music in several ways. He is a principal horn in the Bryan City Band, part of the pit orchestra for the Fountain City Festival, a member of the Defiance Community Band, the marching band announcer for Bryan High School, and the choir director at Wesley United Methodist Church in Bryan. He is also a sitting member of the Bryan City Council, representing Ward 4.

Alspaugh and Defiance College will begin recruiting for its marching and pep band immediately. Prospective band students are encouraged to contact Mr. Alspaugh at salspaugh@defiance.edu or visit DefianceAthletics.com/information/recruits for more information.

Quoting Athletic Director Tiffani Selhorst
"We are thrilled to bring Stephen to Defiance College as our Director of Athletic Bands and to restart our marching and pep band program. His background in both music education and leadership makes him the perfect fit to build something special here. Our goal is to enhance the overall student experience and create an electric game-day environment for football and basketball, and Stephen will play a key role in bringing that vision to life."

Quoting Stephen Alspaugh, Director of Athletic Bands
"I'm excited to be joining the Athletic Department as their Director of Athletic Bands. A band at athletic events will provide the students, athletes, & families a way to come together & celebrate Defiance College and the many opportunities this storied school has to offer."

-JACKETS-