Twain Harte, CA – Friday, following what is being described as a “three-minute meeting,” the search for a new Summerville High School varsity football coach will be off and running.
At noon in its district office the school board will convene a special public meeting, as required by law. The sole purpose will be to rubber stamp a newly updated Head Football Coach description, which, according to Superintendent Robert Griffith, will no longer include in it a teaching position.
Of the meeting, Griffith explains, “It’s strictly a procedural thing. Rather than waiting two more weeks, the board made a decision last night to make some minor changes to the job description, but to do that, it has to be board-approved in open session.” By holding the quickie session the board hopes to speed the hiring process. Griffith states, jokingly, “It’s going to take longer to open and close [the meeting]…they are only going to vote on the one item.”
Griffith describes the board’s hiring timeline over the next four weeks: “We are going to open the position in-house for five days…if we have any applicants, we will evaluate their qualifications for the position. If we don’t have any in-house applicants that meet the required minimum qualifications, we will open that outside…for five days and hold interviews.” He reports, as there has been interest in the job he expects to have a good pool. One way or another, Griffith says he is confident there will be a candidate to take to the board at its April 8 meeting and that a new coach will be in place in time for May spring teaming.
It was at the end of last season that longtime Summerville head football coach Ben Watson decided to step down after nine years in the position. In the move, Watson took on the role of varsity golf coach and retained his responsibilities as varsity basketball coach. Last season, under Watson’s leadership the Bears’ football team went 6-4, making into the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Division V playoff, where it lost to Colfax 42-35.