Robservations: Replacing Walker no easy task
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Now, a different rumor mill can crank up, as WCHS officials begin looking for Walker’s successor.
It’s a rather daunting task, considering the job opening will very likely draw a large number of candidates, including in-house applicants and those with a past association with the program.
As the applications begin coming in, fans, parents and boosters are going to back one candidate or another. And in the end, regardless of who is hired, somebody’s feelings are going to get hurt.
But those with hurt feelings, who want to pout when it’s all said and done because the horse they were backing didn’t get the job, will have to suck in that lip, and keep this in mind.
The administration of Warren County High School is not made up of imbeciles. They realize, when a move like this is being made, that there will be several qualified applicants for the job — although some will be more qualified than others.
They also realize things such as where a person went to high school, for instance, might pull a little weight when they’re applying for a job — but it’s not going to be the deciding factor. We saw during the last search for a football coach that what senior ring you’re wearing — or any other ring, for that matter — doesn’t sway an interview committee.
Hopefully, those charged with hiring coach Walker’s successor will listen to the opinions of those closely involved with the team — namely, the players and their parents. But once again, that can’t be the deciding factor in who is or is not hired. Because high school kids are going to play favorites, and parents are going to back whoever they feel will go along with their own agenda.
What about past success? I’ve seen a lot of coaches’ r?sum?s, and they almost always have their career records somewhere pretty close to the top.
But success at another school is exactly that — at another school. Who’s to say Oakland’s Mack Hawks, Riverdale’s Buddy Powers or the Yankees’ Joe Torre, for that matter, could win at Warren County?
Just as when they replaced Heath Woods as head football coach, the athletic department has the outgoing coach to thank, for giving them a good length of time to find a successor. Walker could’ve kept contemplating his decision until the end of the school year, or even longer. But now that the decision is made and the job opening is posted, there is ample time to accept applications, hold interviews, and pick the absolutely best candidate for the job.
When it’s all said and done, the Pioneer athletic department has some mighty big shoes to fill, just as they did after the 1995 season when Ronnie Brown hung up his spikes.
Of course back then, they looked no further than the end of the bench, to the pitching coach who had been with the team over the previous several seasons.
Looking back, that seemed to work out pretty well.