Thursday, May 04, 2000
Basketball coach leaves Lemon-Monroe
Split meant no guarantee of job security
By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer Contributor
MONROE — Uncertain about his future in the new Monroe school district, Hornets head basketball coach Tom Kinkelaar is headed back to North Carolina.
Mr. Kinkelaar has accepted the head coaching job with Wakefield High School, a new school set to open this fall in Raleigh, N.C. With only freshmen, sophomores, and some juniors, but no seniors, Mr. Kinkelaar will be building a team from scratch in Division IV — the state's largest school classification.
Mr. Kinkelaar, who teaches business classes at Lemon-Monroe High School, was concerned about his lack of seniority as the Middletown/Monroe Schools prepare to split into separate systems.
“It was because of the split. I didn't know my status,” Mr. Kinkelaar said Wednesday. “I'm low man on the totem pole here. I wouldn't be taking this job (at Wakefield) otherwise. I have to do what's best for myself and my family.”
For nearly six years, Mr. Kinkelaar has called Southwest Ohio home. He left Raleigh in 1994 after coaching in the area for 14 years, for Hanover High School in Wilmington and then on to Miami University, where he helped coach baseball for three years before coming to LMHS last fall.
""It's a big loss for us,” said Steve Tannreuther, who heads Monroe's sports/extracurricular committee. ""He was a credit to the high school and program. In time, he could have turned our program around. It will be their gain.”
The Hornets were 6-15, showing progress that included a near-upset of Kings High in their first tournament game, despite injuries to key players including the season-long loss of standout center Erik Wilson.
The decision to leave was a difficult one, Mr. Kinkelaar said.
""I'm a little distraught,” he said. “The kids had made a lot of strides. I hate to not finish a job.”
Sophomore Adam Miller said he would miss Mr. Kinkelaar.
“He was a tough coach, but he knew how to win and what it felt like to win,” said Adam, 16, who played junior varsity for the Hornets. “He pushed us hard. We started getting used to his program and his philosophy midway.”
Mr. Kinkelaar submitted his letter of resignation earlier this week. It is effective at the end of the school year.
The new school district still must hire a superintendent, with interviews set to begin next week. Other positions to be filled include district treasurer, high school principal, and other school administrators.
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