By John R. Schirmer
Leader staff
The search is underway for a new Scrapper basketball coach.
After five years in the position, Ted Green stepped down Thursday afternoon. He will
remain with the Scrapper athletic program in a different capacity, Superintendent
Doug Graham said Friday.
Members of the Nashville School Board accepted Green’s resignation during their
March 15 meeting.
“Coach Green and I had a long visit last week about the program and his future. He’s been a Scrapper for over 20 years,” Graham said. “He was hired a few months before I was in 1990.”
Although he resigned as head basketball coach, “Ted is still a Scrapper. He enjoyed his five years and appreciates the opportunity to be coach for five years and to be a role model for the kids and the community. He’s ready to let somebody else take the ball and run with it,” Graham said.
“Ted will still be used in the classroom and in some other coaching responsibility. He is still very much a part of the Scrapper family,” according to Graham.
The district is “actively advertising and pursuing prospects for the coaching position,” Graham said.
Coach Billy Dawson was named chairman of the committee to find a new coach. Other members include athletic director James “Bunch” Nichols, high school principal Tate Gordon and junior high assistant principal Latito Williams.
“They will screen applications and develop an interview list to go through the process,” Graham said. The committee will narrow the field down to two or three finalists.
“The committee and I will interview them a second time,” Graham said.
“We have to look at it as an opportunity to have the process as thorough as we can make it. We want to hire a great fit who will put basketball on the map in Nashville. We’ve made a great financial commitment with the new arena. The timing is right for an outstanding pool of applicants,” Graham said.
Applications are due April 6, according to Graham. “I hope to have a recommendation for the school board at the April 16 meeting.”
The district wants someone who is “a great basketball coach and a great fit for the community and district. We expect the coach to move into the district and be a part of the community. We’re looking for the total package - a great coach and great person will be a positive part of the Scrapper district,” Graham said.
“The timing of it all has to be something any coach would love. He’ll get to work in a fantastic facility,” according to Graham. The district is developing plans for a new 1,800 seat arena. Bids are expected to be taken in May, and the facility should be open in time for the 2013-14 season.
Graham said he has already had seven or eight inquiries about the job. “I feel that’s a good indicator that we’ll have some interest.”
