The CH-UH School District, with the help of a volunteer search committee, has narrowed the list of applicants for the head football coach position down to two finalists and expects to announce the name of the selected candidate in the coming weeks.
The job listing was posted for three weeks immediately after the District accepted the resignation of former coach Jeff Rotsky on January 6. The review of applications began on February 6. The most qualified applicants were asked to submit a questionnaire; from that group, 8 finalists were invited for an interview. The first round of interviews took place on February 18 and 19. Each candidate participated in a one-hour interview with the search committee and a 30-minute meet-and-greet with the team members. Three finalists participated in a second round of interviews last week. A final round with two candidates will take place next week.
There were 51 total applicants; four of whom are former NFL players. Eleven have college-level coaching experience, either as a head or assistant coach; 32 have high school-level coaching experience as either a head coach or coordinator.
“Our team is still very young and overcame a lot of challenges this past season, but they are fired-up and ready to move forward,” said Kristin Hughes, Athletic Director. “Our future head football coach is going to walk into a great opportunity to lead this team to the next level.”
The District has strong standards in selecting candidates for this position. According to the job posting, the characteristics and skills necessary for the head football coach include (but are not limited to): effectively communicating with student-athletes, the ability to motivate members of the program, and the ability to build character and lead by example. The head coach will oversee all phases of the football program, including: player development, monitoring academic success, staff development and mentoring, overseeing the college recruiting process, maintaining community relations; and equipment inventory.
The interview team consists of: Kristin Hughes, Director of Athletics; a principal representative; a CHHS teacher representative; a male sport head coach representative; a female sport head coach representative; a PTA representative; a Football Booster Club representative; a community member who is a former State Champion Head Coach; a community member who is a former NFL player; and a Heights Youth Football representative.