A name synonymous with Mattoon athletics is getting some well-deserved recognition, this time it’s on a statewide stage. Over thirty years of commitment to high school sports as a coach, principal, and athletic director, helped bring about this “hall of fame” nod.
David Vieth, who served as Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Mattoon High School for 15 years, has been inducted into the Illinois Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame. Vieth’s tenure at Mattoon ran from 2007 to 2022, and the fingerprints he left on the program are still visible today. During his time as an athletic director, the district undertook a massive transformation of its athletic facilities including: a turf football field, an all-weather track, new bleachers and a video board, a turf baseball infield, a turf soccer field with lights, ‘Musco’ lighting, and six new tennis courts. It was a multi-million dollar overhaul that didn’t just upgrade what was already there, Vieth helped change what Mattoon athletics “looks” like entirely.
Beyond the bricks and turf, Vieth built a reputation for running a program that consistently punched above its weight when it came to hosting events. Under his watch, Mattoon regularly hosted IHSA regional and sectional contests across multiple sports, along with marquee annual tournaments in girls basketball, wrestling, and soccer that brought student-athletes from across the region to town.
His impact stretched beyond Mattoon city limits too. Vieth served on multiple IHSA advisory committees, worked the IHSA Girls State Track Meet as a High Jump official for ten years, and spent five years coordinating the State Conference hospitality room for the ‘IADA.’ He also held leadership positions including President of the Big 12 Conference and President of the Apollo Conference.
And before he ever stepped into administration, Vieth was quite the baseball coach. His head coaching record at Nashville High School alone was 293 wins and 94 losses over a 10 plus year span, a run that earned him multiple Coach of the Year honors from both the Southern Illinois Coaches Association and the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association.
He was later honored with the IADA Division Athletic Director of the Year award for Class 3A and 4A in 2017-2018. This Hall of Fame induction is the latest chapter in a career built entirely around making things better for student-athletes and the communities they call home.
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