School board to ready to decide on football coach
CONNELLSVILLE – The Connellsville Area School Board is expected to take action tonight on who will be the head coach of the 2003 varsity football team. On the sidelines will be several parents, former and current players and other coaches rooting for Dan Spanish.
The board during its January meeting opted to open the position and seek other candidates for the post that has been held by Spanish for 29 seasons.
The action to consider others for the position initiated a barrage of letters and telephone calls placed to the district directors from across the country in support of Spanish, according to several of the board members.
Daniel Ferens, who served as team quarterback in 1974 during Spanish’s first year with Connellsville, called the board move “alarming.”
“Connellsville is blessed to have such a person as a coach and teacher, especially in today’s environment,” said Ferens in a letter obtained by the Herald-Standard. “Coach Spanish stands for all the right things in high school football and life in general, and has served as a role model to many.”
William J. and Susan Coleman said Spanish has developed a football program that is admired by those who understand the difficulties that come with holding a coaching position.
“Connellsville has gained respectability because they play good clean, tough, hard hitting football,” said the Colemans, who had two sons play for the team. “Most schools experience cycles, but even in our supposedly down years, we have been fortunate to field a team that never quits.”
In addition to the local support, letters urging the board to retain Spanish have been received from coaches representing Edinboro University, University of Georgia, Michigan University, Slippery Rock University, Penn State, Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh.
“Over the past 25 years, I have had the opportunity to recruit the Western Pennsylvania area,” said Bob Junko, assistant coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers team. “In that time, I have come across very few individuals that displayed the same level of dedication and commitment to their student athletes as Dan Spanish. He is dedicated to not only seeing his athletes succeed at the high school level, but also at the next level.”
James Lembo, the district’s athletic director, said coaching positions are reviewed annually, with most being routinely renewed by the board.
“If someone doesn’t want to stay in the position or if there has been a problem, then you would see the board advertise the opening,” he said.
Director Karen Blocker, who chairs the athletic committee, declined to divulge what, if anything, prompted the board to open the coaching position, but said after each sporting season, the board reviews with Lembo various aspects of the coaching staff, including the year end team record.
“In this particular instance, when it came to place the matter on the agenda (for the January meeting), someone indicated that they believed there was sufficient (board) support to have the coaching position opened and other candidates (in addition to Spanish) interviewed,” said Blocker, adding that the board was aware Spanish was interested in retaining the position.
The board, by a 5-to-3-vote margin, agreed not to immediately renew Spanish’s contract and instead advertise for candidates. Voting to open the position were board members Kevin Lape, David Goldblum, Charles Wilson, Ann Watson and Chip Nicholson with directors Jeff Harvey, Francis Mongell and Loretta Lint declining to accept new candidate applications. Blocker was absent from the January meeting.
The district subsequently received 14 resumes and letters of interest, with eight candidates interviewed by the board, said Blocker.
She declined to reveal the names of the applicants, but said four were district staff members with the remaining candidates employed at other locations.
Spanish said he did re-apply for the position.
The matter, he said, has been the hardest for the players, with some declining to take part in a year-round weightlifting program he initiated several years ago for the players.
“Some of them feel that if a new coach gets in they may not play,” said Spanish.
Although his place with the 2003 football program is unsure, Spanish said he urges the players to take part in off-season programs to maintain their strength and stamina and be physically ready for the football season.
“I tell them that until I am told my services are no longer needed and they ask me for the keys, I’m still the coach of the football team,” he said.
Spanish’s no-nonsense attitude makes for better players and students, said Kim Blackstone, whose son, Zach, is a member of the football squad.
“I do like the discipline that he brings to his team,” she said. “Some parents don’t like that, but it is good for the kids. He would never put the kids in a position where they might get hurt. I appreciate that he puts the kids first and that winning isn’t everything.”
Blackstone said the unbalanced win-loss columns of 4 and 6 in 2001 and 3 and 7 in 2002, might have contributed to the board seeking a change in the coaching staff, but said Spanish cannot be held solely responsible for the records.
“It’s nice to win, but you have to have the talent to win,” she said. “In this case, it is not his fault.”
Zach Blackstone said Spanish’s work ethic has made him a better athlete and student.
“He’s tough on you and pushes you to be better,” he said. “He’s a good coach and he keeps on us about our grades.”
The high school sophomore said he hopes to attend college and is working toward achieving an athletic scholarship.
“The coach has helped a lot of guys get into college,” he said. “They might not be the bigger ones, but you get your education.”
Michael LoNigro, whose son Andy is also a member of the high school football team, said the family has had little conversation about the coaching matter, but speculates the two-year losing record has caused the board to re-think the leadership of the district football program.
“Some of the parents have been pretty disgusted (about the losing record),” said LoNigro. “Being a former athlete, I know it is not Coach Spanish’s fault.”
Blocker, meanwhile, said the final decision as to who will lead the upcoming football program would be at the discretion of the full board.
“It’s going to be a very difficult decision,” she said. “There are a lot of people interested in the outcome.”
The board will meet at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.