HHS mulls 5 finalists to coach boys hoops
Former OSU assistant Souder, Fenwick's Kreke, and Talawanda's DeCello all under consideration.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
HAMILTON — Hamilton City School District administrators have announced the five finalists for the boys basketball coaching vacancy at HHS.
Tim Robinson, Pat Kreke, Gary McDaniel and Michael DeCello all were interviewed for a second time Wednesday, May 14, and Tom Souder, a late applicant, received a first interview.
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"They're all very solid candidates that bring different strengths to the table," said Kathy Leist, the district's assistant superintendent for human resources. "We feel confident that we have all the information we need to make a decision about who we want to talk to further."
Leist said the interview committee, which also includes Hamilton High Principal Dennis Malone and Athletic Director Mike Dellapina, plans to make its recommendation to the school board at its next meeting May 27.
"It's important for us to get this wrapped up so that our students and parents have a leader," she said.
Souder, a former head coach at Edgewood and assistant at Ohio State, currently is the head coach at Worthington Kilbourne, in suburban Columbus.
DeCello (Talawanda) and Kreke (Fenwick) also are current head coaches at the prep level, while Robinson is a former Hamilton High assistant.
McDaniel, who most recently worked as the men's basketball coach at Cincinnati State from 2006-08, reportedly has been offered the job at Walnut Hills but has not given that school a final decision.
"He told us he has several other opportunities," Leist said. "But he's waiting to hear from us before he makes his decision."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.
