Ursuline High School is a private Catholic college preparatory high school in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It operates as part of the Diocese of Youngstown. Athletic teams are known as the Fighting Irish and they compete as a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
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History
Ursuline High School was founded as the Ursuline Academy of the Holy Name of Jesus in 1905 by the Ursuline Sisters as a day school for girls, located on West Rayen Avenue. The Ursulines purchased the former Chauncey Andrews Estate on Wick Avenue in Youngstown's North Side in February 1919. The oldest portion of the current Ursuline High School building was completed in April 1925. The school became coeducational in 1930.
2025 football hazing allegations
In September 2025, a federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against the school, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, and numerous administrators and athletic coaches for an alleged hazing incident earlier that year. The lawsuit claimed that two football players allegedly assaulted another student as part of a hazing ritual in June 2025, where the student was forcibly restrained, stripped of his clothing, and sexually assaulted. Parts of the incident were recorded and circulated on social media and, prior to the incident, some students spoke openly about the planned hazing in front of coaches; however, they allegedly dismissed these discussions as "boys just being boys".
Principal Matthew Sammartino released a statement in July 2025 to parents regarding the situation, reassuring them that both the school and the Diocese of Youngstown were actively cooperating with law enforcement. Another statement was released the following month, describing the event as isolated and stating that faculty would receive additional training. The school later canceled the remainder of the 2025 football season after all of its opponents proactively canceled their games with Ursuline.
Academics
The instructional program at Ursuline High School is designed for the college-bound student but is flexible enough to meet the needs of most students. Ursuline offers Honors and Advanced Placement sections in English, French, Spanish, American History, American Government, science and mathematics to challenge students who are gifted in those particular areas.
Athletics
Ursuline High School offers:
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Cheerleading
Cross country
Golf
Football
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
OHSAA state championships
Baseball — 1988, 2000
Football — 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010
Boys golf —1975, 1976
Boys basketball — 1994
Girls basketball — 2004
Associated Press state championships
Football — 2008, 2010
Notable alumni
Pat Bilon, actor
Daryll Clark, former professional football player
Jim Cummings, voice actor
Mark Dailey, television journalist
Mike Echols, former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL)
Bob Hagan, politician
Tim Hagan, politician
Tony Hinchcliffe, comedian
Paul Maguire, former professional football player in the American Football League (AFL), TV sportscaster
Lauren McNally, politician
Pat Narduzzi, college football head coach
Ed O'Neill, actor
Darrell K. Smith, former professional football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL)