John Carroll Catholic High School named Ronald Steele as their new principal, marking the first Black principal in the school’s history.

Steele is a 2004 graduate of John Carroll and former Basketball All-American and two-time Mr. Basketball. He helped lead the Cavaliers to win two state championships alongside DeMarre Carroll in 2003 and 2004. He went on to play basketball at the University of Alabama where he graduated in 2008.

He began working at John Carroll as the head basketball coach and athletics director in 2017. He’s since earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Marymount University.

John Carroll released the following statement on Steele’s hiring: “Mr. Steele increased program quality and engagement while building out critical initiatives focused on education of the whole-person, virtue development, and partner-school relationships. As principal he will lead the partnerships with families, our scholars’ first educators, and partner schools in addition to leading the academic enterprise.”

Steele will continue to coach John Carroll’s boys’ basketball program.

AL.com reached out to Steele for additional comment and did not receive a response.

The Catholic high school also announced the hiring of 1996 alum, Dr. Katie King, director of curriculum and instruction. Both Steele and King will report to Father Jon Chalmers, president of John Carroll.