BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
The timing wasn't perfect, but the opportunity was too good for Herb Woeste to turn down.
A football coach at Purcell Marian the past 22 years, Woeste will take over July 1 as athletic director at Winton Woods High School. Woeste expected to sign a contract on Wednesday.
"I wouldn't have left Purcell Marian for too many jobs," Woeste said. "But this is my community school, which my kids attended. My wife also works at Winton Woods."
In 16 years as head coach, Woeste's Purcell Marian teams compiled a 95-70-1 record. The Cavaliers went 14-0 in 1986 and won the Division II state championship, defeating Willoughby South 26-7 in the final.
"Before I retired as football coach at Purcell Marian, I wanted to win at least 102 games," Woeste said. "Jim McCarthy holds the career coaching record with 101 victories."
Woeste will replace Ed Westerkamp, a 30-year employee in the Winton Wood-Forest Park School district. Westerkamp retired at the end of the 1997-98 school year.
Before Westerkamp took over last year, Charlie Fredrick served as AD for more than 20 years at Greenhills and Winton Woods High Schools. The football complex at Winton Woods is named Charlie Fredrick Stadium.
"This a a real challenge for me," Woeste said. "Both Charlie and Ed were very popular and there are some big shoes to fill."
Woeste's departure come at an inopportune time for the Purcell Marian's football team that returns 22 seniors and was expected to challenge for the Division II state championship in 1998.
Purcell Marian also has expansion plans, which includes building a football stadium.
