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If I were the Wellston Administration, I would be getting a little emarrassed. Either Higher a Coach or Dont. Quit playing games,, because all that happens in a situation like this, is the kids end up transferring, quitting, losing support from the community, and just plain become cheated out of a great experience.!!!!!!

Jim Derrow is probably gonna be back for another year as the Wellston hoops coach. As recently as four weeks ago, the Superintendent instructed the AD to post the job on the OHSAA website. From what I'm hearing, the Superintendent, Eric Meredith, wants Mr Derrow gone as a coach. At the original time the job was posted on the OHSAA website, the President of the Wellston School Board(and longtime friend of Derrow), Terry Gill supported that action as well. I've been told by three different people that Gill has said he cannot continue to support Derrow as a coach in the school system. However, in the last week, Mr Gill has apparently done a 180 and now is going to endorse Derrow for his rehire.

Now, they've apparently reposted the job. What in the world is going on?

The boys basketball summer season is approaching in the next several weeks, and as of right now, Wellston doesn't apparently have a coach. For the best interest of the kids in Wellston, I certainly hope they get things resolved quickly. Derrow doesn't have a legacy anymore, its more on the lines of notoriety; and, one way or another, the powers that be need to either Crap or get off the pot! It's not fair to the kids and quite honestly, its not very fair to Jim Derrow.

If you aint cheatin you aint tryin!

This coach tries as hard as anyone to win games! rehire Derrow!

The way schools hire coaches is a joke. They always have to have a teacher in the district. What happens when that person is not qualified in comparison to someone who is either not a teacher or teaches a subject that they don't have an opening in? How is it fair to give these athletes who play this game year round in a lot of cases someone who was maybe the fourth or fifth most qualified or worse for the job?

newlex/sheridan,There is probably not 3 or 4 other "qualified" people interested in coaching at Wellston. I'm not sure what is going on at Wellston (politics I suspect), But, I don't think "qualified" is the factor here. Someone that thinks they want to be a "coach" can always pay the $$$ and get a teaching degree like most of the rest of us had to do.

Just being a teacher does not make you automatically qualified to be a coach. If you paid the $ to teach just so you could coach, then you are what is wrong with our school system today....well, part of it. I teach and I coach, but I have seen many teachers get hired as coaches just bc they are teachers. When schools hire coaches based on teaching needs, it does not usually work out.

General85
I don't think "I" am what is wrong with the system. I have had my ups and downs over the years but I could probably get a second on the motion that I do OK. The system is what is wrong with the system.
Your quote;"When schools hire coaches based on teaching needs, it does not usually work out." I have taught and coached for 28 years and from what I have seen, the "outside" coach that was a former local hero OR related to a BoE member are usually the biggest messes to clean up. I attribute that to the fact that many don't feel they are as accountable (not their pay the bills job).
To clarify, Yes I think school systems SHOULD look for QUALIFIED teacher/coaches, they are out there. Do I think ALL outside coaches are not capable, NO, there are many fine non-teaching coaches....AS well as Teacher/Coaches.
So if you are saying don't renew the proven teacher/coach because there is an outside person that can probably do the job....oh well to reason.
In this this situation, Wellston has the best possible and proven coach they can expect to find. That is why Politics unfortunately usually wins the battle but fortunately never the war, after all, we can change BoE annd administrators also.

On the same lines, with school districts making cuts, the days of hiring a coach and creating a teaching position is pretty much over. Teaching positions are full and firing a teacher in the system and bringing in a new teacher to coach can really open a can of worms a long the lines of union issues. Also you can really upset a staff doing this as well. I agree with Coach Uhrig, I think someone in the system has a better handle on things being in the school everyday. They know when kids are in trouble in grades and the class room. They know about after school activities that might not have gotten passed on to the coach that shows up to school after his primary job. All in all it helps with communication. Not saying that someone outside can't do it, Coach Lisath at Piketon has seemed to keep a handle on it, but I believe it is much harder to do.

This is suppose to be about Wellston's indecision to keep or get rid of Coach Derrow , not about hiring a teacher over a nonteacher to coach basketball.
It's not that hard to keep up with school issues if you are a nonteacher or coach at one school and teach at another if the school you coach for has a good AD, and a concerned faculty. I have done it! Taught at one school and coached at another school. It was middle school, but the Vinton County High and Middle school's AD's kept me informed. I think the two AD's at VC are top notch too . Other times a teacher would be waiting at the gym at practice to tell me about discipline and/or grade issues with player/s. It's all in the rapport the coach sets with the administration and the faculty. It's not that hard if one cares about the players. I am sure coach Lisath at Piketon would agree.
Coach Derrow will more than likely return at Wellston.
You are right about one thing, and that is opening a "can of worms."
I wish the Rockets the best in whatever they decide

Good luck to Coach Derrow